Audrey J. Burdette, retired library aide

Audrey J. Burdette, 80, of Germantown, Md., passed away peacefully Sunday, Jan. 31, 2016. Audrey was residing at Manor House in Seaford at the time of her passing.

Prior to her move to Delaware, she lived in her Germantown, Md.home for 56 years, which she and her late husband Paul built in 1959. She cherished and loved her home where they raised their four sons.

Audrey was born June 14, 1935, in Paeonian Springs, Va., the oldest child of the late William F. and Elsie M. (Putman) Ballenger. She graduated from Sherwood High School in 1953. She later met and married the love of her life, Paul D. Burdette, who preceded her in death in 1977. Paul’s nickname for her was “Rusty.”

Audrey and Paul operated a dairy farm in Gaithersburg, Md. until 1970. She then volunteered at Germantown Elementary School and was quickly hired by Montgomery County Public Schools where she worked for 27 years. Audrey spent the majority of her career at Germantown Elementary School as a library aide, and later became an office secretary. She truly loved her job and working with children.

She was a member of Grace United Methodist Church, Gaithersburg, a lifetime member of Montgomery County Agricultural Society and the Maryland Retired School Personnel Association.

Audrey was also preceded in death by her two youngest brothers, Glen A. Ballenger and Dennis Mitchell Ballenger; a grandson, Paul M. Burdette; and her second husband, Walter D. Hoffman Jr. She is survived by her four sons: Steven Burdette (MaryAnn) of Oregon, Ill., Ronald Burdette of Mt. Airy, Md., Paul Gregory Burdette (Sandy) of New Market, Md., and J. Scott Burdette (Scott Ennis) of Rehoboth Beach. Her surviving brothers are Nelson Ballenger and companion Linda Riker, and Douglas Ballenger, all of Hedgesville, W.Va., and William Ballenger and companion Cynthia Ferguson of Germantown, Md.; surviving sisters are: Sandra Clark of Cape Coral, Fla. and Phyllis A. Sterling (Wayne) of Bridgeville. Audrey has three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, plus numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and a wonderful and supportive group of friends she loved as family.

Funeral Services will be held Saturday, Feb. 6, at 11 a.m., at the Molesworth-Williams Funeral Home, 26401 Ridge Road, Damascus, Md. Family will receive friends at the funeral home Friday, Feb. 5, from 6 to 8 p.m. Interment will immediately following the funeral service at Boyds Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Boyds, Md.

Arrangements are being handled by Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, Lewes.

The family would like to take this opportunity to especially thank Audrey’s wonderful network of friends who supported her over the years by taking her on doctors appointments, to the grocery store and on rides through the country side, one of her favorite things. The family would like to thank Manor House and their kind and caring staff who took such wonderful care of her during her last months. The family would also like to thank the staff at Delaware Hospice for their caring and compassionate support of their mother and family during the final weeks of Audrey’s journey home to the Lord.

Memorial contributions may be made to Delaware Hospice, 100 Patriots Way, Milford, DE 19963, or planting a tree in remembrance of Audrey is also an option since she loved nature.

Please visit Audrey’s Life Memorial Webpage and sign the online guestbook at www.parsellfuneralhomes.com or you may also visit Molesworth-Williams Funeral Home Webpage to read the obituary and to sign the online guestbook at www.molesworthwilliams.com.