This is a pre-need memorial that I am creating for myself in keeping with the guidelines of Find A Grave: "You are always welcome to create a 'pre-need' memorial for yourself, if you would like, provided that you have a pre-need headstone already in place in a cemetery."

John was born in Barre VT, October 3, 1934, the son of Richard H. and Helen (Dean) Burbank, residents of Chelsea, VT. He attended elementary schools in Monkton and Brandon (Forestdale) and in 1952 graduated from Bristol High School, after which he served three years in the U. S. Navy, honorably discharged as a Yeoman Second Class. On August 23, 1955 in Starksboro, he married Lois Jean, daughter of Hervey W. & Olive (Brown) Hanson with the Rev. W. W. White officiating. In 1959 he earned a B.A. from Bethel College in St. Paul, MN and in 1963 obtained his theological degree cum laude from Bethel Theological Seminary. He attended Navy Chaplain's School in the summer of 1962 at Newport RI and served in the Naval Reserve at Burlington VT beginning in 1963, retiring with the rank of Commander in 1981.

Mr. Burbank served a student pastorate (1957-1961) at the Warman Baptist Church, Mora, MN where he was ordained June 4, 1963. This ordination and recognition by the U. S. Navy Chaplain Corps was within the Baptist General Conference. These credentials were later transferred to the American Baptist Churches, USA. He was the pastor of the First Baptist Church of Bristol, VT, from October 1963 to January 1970, and then became the Associate Executive Minister of the Vermont Baptist State Convention working primarily at their Burlington office and directing interracial summer camps at Gove Hill in Thetford. A highlight of this ministry was co-directing six cross-country bus trips with Baptist youth from New England. In January 1981, he became pastor of the First Baptist Church of St. Albans, VT, serving through September 1996. During his ministry, he was exceptionally active in denominational affairs serving on various committees and boards of the state convention and larger region including many years as recording secretary and in other offices. He was a past-president of the American Baptist Churches of Vermont and New Hampshire.

Mr. Burbank was an end-to-end hiker of Vermont's Long Trail, an at-large life-member of the Green Mountain Club. He was an avid genealogist and published a family newsletter, Burbank Banner, for 20 years. He was instrumental in partially revising and updating the massive 1928 Burbank genealogy. He also wrote several monographs on Vermont Baptist history. In retirement he was active in the Bristol Historical Society serving numerous years as secretary. He was also the clerk of the First Baptist Church of Starksboro for many years and secretary of the Bristol High School Alumni Assn.