Virginia "Ginny" Burnham

It is with sadness and a sense of peace that we announce Virginia M. (Lougee) Burnham (aka Mom, Ginny, Grammie, Grammie B, Sis, Aunt Ginny), age 95, passed away at her daughter and son-in-law’s home in Campton, NH, on October 17, 2023.

Ginny was born on August 11, 1928, in Torrington, CT, to Glen and Mary Lougee. She grew up in Hillsboro, NH, moving there at the age of five. After graduating high school, she attended hairdressing school, and found a position in Warren, NH to practice her new skills. While there, she attended barn dances four nights a week and met her husband, Guy Burnham. They married and bought a home in West Rumney, NH. Ginny lived there for 70 years before moving to Campton in April 2022.

God gave her a gift of being a loving foster mom to more than 40 children, many of whom still stay in touch and call her mom. She said, “The kids made my life.”

Her family was the most important part of her life; she loved nothing better than being with her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. She loved water (any body of water would do), York Beach vacations, walking on the beach, sunshine, reading. quilt making, puzzles, watching the birds, especially Cardinals, eating ice cream, her Church family, and visiting with friends. Ginny loved to travel to spots such as Jamaica, Hawaii, Spain, and many places in the US. She was a frequent attendee at her grandchildren’s sporting events, activities, concerts, and graduations.

In addition to holding the position of Head Housekeeper at Holderness School, she was involved in many activities and organizations. She was a Plymouth Area Community Food Pantry volunteer, member of the Rumney Historical Society, volunteer for the Russell Elementary School summer lunch program, and served as a poll volunteer for the Town of Rumney. Ginny loved to bake for family and friends. She would bake cookies for new people who moved into town and loved to cook her famous donuts for functions at the Byron G. Merrill Library in Rumney, Rumney Old Home Day, and many other church and social functions.

She was a member of the West Rumney Community Church, serving in various roles including fundraising and Sunday School Teacher. For many years she would walk up to the Church early every Sunday morning to turn on the heat so it would be warm for the service at 9 a.m.

Ginny is survived by her daughter, Deb Tobine and her husband, Elwin of Campton, NH; her daughter, Diane Smith of Oxford, AL; her son, Dennis Burnham of Rumney, NH; her daughter, Linda Davis and her husband Doug of Sterling, MA; her daughter, Nancy Mason and her husband, Paul, of Belmont, NH; her daughter, Robin Covington and her husband, Charles, of Grand Blanc, MI; and is fondly known as “Grammie B” to 15 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren. She leaves behind her sister, Sylvia Southwick of Peterborough, NH; her brother-in-law William Carpenter of Plymouth, NH; and a great many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, her husband, Guy, her brother, Roy Lougee, and her grandson, Scott Wright.

Visiting hours will be held 1-3 p.m. with a funeral service to follow at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, October 25 at the Mayhew Funeral Home-Plymouth, 12 Langdon Street, Plymouth, NH.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the West Rumney Community Church, 1218 Old Route 25, Rumney, NH 03266, to the Plymouth Area Community Closet in Plymouth, NH, or to a charity of one’s choice.