Henry O. Burt of Vineyard Haven died at the South Shore Hospital in Weymouth on May 8. He was 85.

Henry was born on-Island at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital on Nov. 4, 1927. He graduated from the Tisbury High School in 1945.

After high school, Henry attended the Millbrook School in New York before entering the U.S. Marine Corps in 1946. He served during the later years of World War II and after being discharged in 1949 was recalled to active duty during the Korean Conflict.

Following his military service Henry attended Bryant and Stratton business school in Boston. After graduating he went to work for Libby, McNeil and Libby food processing and was transferred to Chicago.

While in Chicago he met his future longtime wife Helen McDonald at a local YMCA dance. They were soon married at the First Baptist Church in Vineyard Haven in 1956.

Henry moved back to the Island and took over his father’s boat yard which he managed and owned for 20 years. While operating the boat yard, Henry worked part time as a deputy sheriff in Edgartown. Once he sold the boat yard he went into law enforcement full time and served with the Tisbury police department for many years.

He retired in 1993 and became heavily involved in the Tisbury town affairs. He served on the finance committee, the fisheries committee and as a selectman. He was also involved in the American Legion, General George Goethals Post 257 and a member of the Oriental-MV Masonic Lodge, AF & AM. He was an avid fisherman and sports fan.

He was predeceased by his wife and his daughter, Diana Burt Smith. He is survived by his son, Stephen and his wife Brenda Burt of Hanson. He is also survived by his three grandchildren, Ryan and Shannon Burt and Ross Stevenson Smith and his son in law Shawn Smith.

A graveside service will be held Saturday, May 18, at 10 a.m. in the Oak Grove Cemetery in Vineyard Haven with full military honors provided by the Veterans of Martha’s Vineyard and a masonic funeral service performed by the Oriental-MV Masonic Lodge. A memorial service will follow in the First Baptist Church in Vineyard Haven at 11 a.m., officiated by the Rev. Ellen Tatreau.

Donations may be made in his memory to the First Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 806, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568.

Arrangements are under the care of the Chapman, Cole and Gleason, Funeral Home in Oak Bluffs. Please visit ccgfuneralhome.com for online guest book.