Lorraine A (Burlingame) Claxton of Needham passed away at Epoch Senior Healthcare of Chestnut Hill, Chestnut Hill, MA, on November 12, 2008 from pneumonia. Born in Scranton, PA, on August 16, 1906, Ms Claxton attended schools in East Stroudsburg, PA, graduated from East Stroudsburg Normal School, and East Stroudsburg Teacher’s College.
In 1928 she married Philip Harmon Claxton whom she had met while they both attended East Stroudsburg Teacher’s College. They settled in Needham the following year. While she was raising her two children, she tutored and substitute taught in Needham Public Schools. In 1942 she began teaching seventh and eighth grade math and science full time at Needham Junior High School. When that building was closed, she taught at the Pollard and Newman schools until retiring in 1969.
From 1930-1932, Mrs. Claxton and her husband owned and operated Birch Hill Camp, a boys’ summer camp in New Durham, NH. During World War II, she was part of the administrative staff at Camp Mitton, a boys’ camp in Brewster, MA. After the war, she and her husband operated Eastward-Ho, a golf caddy camp on Cape Cod, for The Boys’ Club of Boston.
Ms Claxton was a 79 year member of the First Baptist Church of Needham. At the church’s 150th anniversary, it was recognized that she was the oldest living, contributing, and driving member of the congregation.
At various points in her life, Ms Claxton had been an enthusiast of needlework, hiking, music, canning, crosswords and logic puzzles and computer games. As a teen, she played the banjo and ukulele, and was full time organist for her church. Ms Claxton has traveled the country doing genealogical research. She visited every state with the exception of Oregon. She also was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (Col. McIntosh Chapter), the Connecticut Genealogical Society, New England Historical and Genealogical Society and the Rhode Island Historical Society.
Ms Claxton is survived by two children, Janet B. (Claxton) Costanzo of Palatine,IL, and Philip H. Claxton, Jr. and his wife of Cherry Hill, NJ; five grandchildren: Jeanne A. (Costanzo) Kukla and her husband Robert, John P. Costanzo and his wife Amy, Christopher D. Costanzo and his wife Sally, Dale B. Claxton and his wife, Cindi, Della T. (Claxton) Mayer and her husband, David; seven great-grandchildren: Steven Kukla, Philip Kukla, Carlyn Costanzo, Caitlyn Costanzo, Jeremy Claxton, Bryan Mayer and Amanda Mayer.
Funeral services at the Eaton Funeral Home 1351 Highland Ave Needham on Wed Nov. 19th at 11: 00 AM. Relatives and friends are kindly invited. Visiting hours on Wed 10-11 prior to the service. Interment Needham Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorials in Lorraine’s name may be made to the First Baptist Church Memorial Fund, 858 Great Plain Ave. Needham MA 02492.