Cecil F. Burdell of Opelika was born in Lee County on August 8, 1928 and passed away at East Alabama Medical Center on May 26, 2012. He was 83 years old. He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Joan Burdell, daughter Ann Van Nostrand and her husband John, daughter Jennifer Gosdin and her husband Greg, son Alex Burdell, brother Austin Burdell and his wife Rebecca of Opelika, sister Mary Harvey and her husband Norbert of Fairport, New York, sister Helen Dorr of Pickens, South Carolina, nine grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, and cousins. He had 50 years of service at Opelika Manufacturing/Leshner as plant Engineer.