OVID/WILLARD - Mr. Walter S. Burgeson, 73, of 7001 First St., died Saturday, Feb. 7, 2004, in his home.

Walter was born Sept. 7, 1930, in Philipsburg, Pa., the son of Carl and Esther R. Copelin Burgeson. He was a 1949 graduate of West High School in Auburn. He enlisted in the Air Force in 1950 and served 23 years, retiring in 1972 as a senior master sergeant, from the Hancock Airfield in Syracuse.

After retiring from the service, he and his wife owned and operated the Fishermen's Friend in Waterloo for 25 years. He was a member of the Seneca Lodge 113 F&AM, the Waterloo Sportsman's Club and the Finger Lakes Association for Commerce. For many years, he was also a scoutmaster for the Boy Scouts of America.

He is survived by his wife, with whom he would have celebrated 53 years of marriage in April of this year, Mina Sutton Burgeson; four sons, Dennis K. (Marie) Burgeson of Barrington, N.J., David K. (Kathy) Burgeson of Waterloo, Brian L. (Julie) Burgeson of Greece and Mark L. (Judith) Burgeson of Fairport; one daughter, Deborah K. Lalli of Las Vegas, Nev.; 11 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; one half-brother, Kenneth Lee (Dottie) Achmoody of Akron, Ohio; one half-sister, Elaine (Terry) Taylor of North Canton, Ohio; and five nephews.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today, Feb. 9, at the Coe-Genung Funeral Home, 46 W. Main St., in Waterloo. The funeral service will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10, at the funeral home, with the Rev. Douglas Marshall, pastor of the Waterloo Wesleyan Church, officiating. Military rites and spring interment will be in Maple Grove Cemetery in Waterloo.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Waterloo Wesleyan Church, 123 Virginia St., Waterloo, NY 13165