Kay Burlin
July 16, 1922 - December 8, 2020

Our dear, sweet friend, Katherine (Kay) Burlin, passed away on December 8 at 98 years of age. Kay was a member of
AESC for over 60 years (since 1955). She held various positions on the AESC Board to include Reservations,
Hospitality, Nominations, Public Relations, and numerous Castle Ball committees. She most recently served as our
liaison to The Fairfax and kept other Engineer residents informed on AESC and the Engineer community's news and
events. Kay hosted luncheons at the Fairfax for AESC board members and coordinated the use of the Fairfax for our
AEMA Awards Luncheon. Most recently, Kay provided the names of the recipients for the cookies delivered to the
Fairfax.
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Kay was born on July 16, 1922, in Whizbang, OK, and was raised in oil boomtowns in Oklahoma, Texas, and Kansas.
Kay enlisted as a U.S. Navy WAVES (Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Service) in 1944 and served as a
Yeoman. After the war ended, Kay became a flight attendant for Eastern Airlines. Her passion for service would
continue through her many volunteer activities. She volunteered for the American Red Cross for over six decades and
would later volunteer as a museum docent. Kay was honored with the Clara Barton Meritorious Leadership Award for
her dedication to the American Red Cross. At age 95, Kay delivered the Navy tribute at the Women in Military
Service for America Memorial on Memorial Day.

She met her future husband, MAJ Robert Burlin, while on an Eastern flight in 1949, and they got married in July 1951.
They would move ten times before Bob's retirement from the military in 1971. After successful careers in the civilian
sector, Kay and Bob would move to Melbourne, Florida, in 1990. After Bob passed away, Kay would spend the next
three decades living between Florida, Cape Cod, and Virginia. Kay and Bob were the proud parents of three
daughters, Ann (who predeceased Kay), Mary Jane, and Patricia. Kay was incredibly proud of her five grandchildren
and four great-grandchildren. Kay will be buried next to her husband at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.
Donations in Kay's memory may be made to The Women in Military Service for America Memorial Foundation or The
American Red Cross. Kay's full obituary may be found at https://www.everlywheatley.com/tributes/Katherine-Burlin.

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