Royce Edwin Burton, 97, died November 25, 2019 in Nacogdoches. He was born December 26, 1921 to John and Nella Bass Burton. A native Texan, born in Tyler, Burton spent years of his life overseas, initially as part of his military career and then, in retirement, simply for the love it.
Eventually achieving the rank of Lt. Colonel, Burton began his military career as a member of the Horse Cavalry F Troop, the last troop of horse cavalry in the US. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, he was transferred to the Signal Corps because of his knowledge of Morse code. His twenty-year military career would include serving under Gen. George Patton during WWII and participating in major battles including the Battle of the Bulge. He was also among the US soldiers who liberated imprisoned Jews from Dachau concentration camp. He later served in the Korean Conflict.
Burton met his future wife Ellen Bitting when he was a young soldier stationed in Laredo, TX. When he learned that Ellen's father did not approve of his daughter dating a soldier of low rank, he enrolled in Officer Candidate School. Upon graduation he and Ellen were married.
After retiring from the military Burton, a voracious reader, decided to pursue a new career in academia. He attended the University of Texas at Austin where he received his Bachelor and Master degrees in English. His first teaching job was at the University of New Hampshire. He returned to the University of Texas to get his doctorate but then headed North again, this time to New Jersey where he taught English at Stockton State College and later served as Dean of the Literature and Language Division.
He and Ellen moved to Nacogdoches in 1984 when he retired for the second time. They chose Nacogdoches, having never been there, because it was close enough to world class opera houses in Dallas and Houston to satisfy Ellen's great love, and it was home to a University where Burton would be able to continue teaching as an adjunct professor in the English department. He particularly enjoyed teaching Shakespeare to inmates at the Ferguson Unit of the Texas State Prison System as part of an SFA sponsored outreach program.
The couple loved to travel. During his military career they had lived in Germany, Italy and Japan where they acquired good friends, wonderful memories, and stories that would be shared over countless dinner parties. For many years they rented a house each summer near Salisbury, England. Burton took particular pleasure in his annual trip to Hay-on-Wye, the "city of bookstores," where he spent hours searching for coveted "first editions" and then enjoying a pint at the pub.
Royce and Ellen were married for 58 years and had two children and a succession of pampered felines. They also welcomed several "honorary" children into their family over the years, and later their children became like grandchildren to them. Ellen passed away in 1999.
Burton married Joan Stubenrod in 2001. Joan, a book-lover like Royce, was also an avid traveler and they happily began a tradition of fleeing the Texas heat each summer for the cool forests of Wisconsin. Joan passed away in 2012.
When not reading or discussing the merits of Faulkner, Burton was an excellent tennis player, a champion skeet shooter, an avid fisherman, and a ruthless cribbage player. He also made a fine dirty martini. His kind heart, sense of humor and wonderful conversation will be missed.
In addition to his parents and wives, he was preceded in death by his brother Ronald Burton. He is survived by his son Royce Burton Jr. and wife Virginia of Arlington, VA; his daughter Susanna Hunter of Bellingham, WA; two grandchildren, Susannah Burton of London, England and Adam Goad of Seattle, WA; his niece Sydney Burton of Flower Mound, TX; three great grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild. His remains will be interred at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas.
LAIRD FUNERAL HOME
Eventually achieving the rank of Lt. Colonel, Burton began his military career as a member of the Horse Cavalry F Troop, the last troop of horse cavalry in the US. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, he was transferred to the Signal Corps because of his knowledge of Morse code. His twenty-year military career would include serving under Gen. George Patton during WWII and participating in major battles including the Battle of the Bulge. He was also among the US soldiers who liberated imprisoned Jews from Dachau concentration camp. He later served in the Korean Conflict.
Burton met his future wife Ellen Bitting when he was a young soldier stationed in Laredo, TX. When he learned that Ellen's father did not approve of his daughter dating a soldier of low rank, he enrolled in Officer Candidate School. Upon graduation he and Ellen were married.
After retiring from the military Burton, a voracious reader, decided to pursue a new career in academia. He attended the University of Texas at Austin where he received his Bachelor and Master degrees in English. His first teaching job was at the University of New Hampshire. He returned to the University of Texas to get his doctorate but then headed North again, this time to New Jersey where he taught English at Stockton State College and later served as Dean of the Literature and Language Division.
He and Ellen moved to Nacogdoches in 1984 when he retired for the second time. They chose Nacogdoches, having never been there, because it was close enough to world class opera houses in Dallas and Houston to satisfy Ellen's great love, and it was home to a University where Burton would be able to continue teaching as an adjunct professor in the English department. He particularly enjoyed teaching Shakespeare to inmates at the Ferguson Unit of the Texas State Prison System as part of an SFA sponsored outreach program.
The couple loved to travel. During his military career they had lived in Germany, Italy and Japan where they acquired good friends, wonderful memories, and stories that would be shared over countless dinner parties. For many years they rented a house each summer near Salisbury, England. Burton took particular pleasure in his annual trip to Hay-on-Wye, the "city of bookstores," where he spent hours searching for coveted "first editions" and then enjoying a pint at the pub.
Royce and Ellen were married for 58 years and had two children and a succession of pampered felines. They also welcomed several "honorary" children into their family over the years, and later their children became like grandchildren to them. Ellen passed away in 1999.
Burton married Joan Stubenrod in 2001. Joan, a book-lover like Royce, was also an avid traveler and they happily began a tradition of fleeing the Texas heat each summer for the cool forests of Wisconsin. Joan passed away in 2012.
When not reading or discussing the merits of Faulkner, Burton was an excellent tennis player, a champion skeet shooter, an avid fisherman, and a ruthless cribbage player. He also made a fine dirty martini. His kind heart, sense of humor and wonderful conversation will be missed.
In addition to his parents and wives, he was preceded in death by his brother Ronald Burton. He is survived by his son Royce Burton Jr. and wife Virginia of Arlington, VA; his daughter Susanna Hunter of Bellingham, WA; two grandchildren, Susannah Burton of London, England and Adam Goad of Seattle, WA; his niece Sydney Burton of Flower Mound, TX; three great grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild. His remains will be interred at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas.
LAIRD FUNERAL HOME
Royce Edwin Burton, 97, died November 25, 2019 in Nacogdoches. He was born December 26, 1921 to John and Nella Bass Burton. A native Texan, born in Tyler, Burton spent years of his life overseas, initially as part of his military career and then, in retirement, simply for the love it.
Eventually achieving the rank of Lt. Colonel, Burton began his military career as a member of the Horse Cavalry F Troop, the last troop of horse cavalry in the US. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, he was transferred to the Signal Corps because of his knowledge of Morse code. His twenty-year military career would include serving under Gen. George Patton during WWII and participating in major battles including the Battle of the Bulge. He was also among the US soldiers who liberated imprisoned Jews from Dachau concentration camp. He later served in the Korean Conflict.
Burton met his future wife Ellen Bitting when he was a young soldier stationed in Laredo, TX. When he learned that Ellen's father did not approve of his daughter dating a soldier of low rank, he enrolled in Officer Candidate School. Upon graduation he and Ellen were married.
After retiring from the military Burton, a voracious reader, decided to pursue a new career in academia. He attended the University of Texas at Austin where he received his Bachelor and Master degrees in English. His first teaching job was at the University of New Hampshire. He returned to the University of Texas to get his doctorate but then headed North again, this time to New Jersey where he taught English at Stockton State College and later served as Dean of the Literature and Language Division.
He and Ellen moved to Nacogdoches in 1984 when he retired for the second time. They chose Nacogdoches, having never been there, because it was close enough to world class opera houses in Dallas and Houston to satisfy Ellen's great love, and it was home to a University where Burton would be able to continue teaching as an adjunct professor in the English department. He particularly enjoyed teaching Shakespeare to inmates at the Ferguson Unit of the Texas State Prison System as part of an SFA sponsored outreach program.
The couple loved to travel. During his military career they had lived in Germany, Italy and Japan where they acquired good friends, wonderful memories, and stories that would be shared over countless dinner parties. For many years they rented a house each summer near Salisbury, England. Burton took particular pleasure in his annual trip to Hay-on-Wye, the "city of bookstores," where he spent hours searching for coveted "first editions" and then enjoying a pint at the pub.
Royce and Ellen were married for 58 years and had two children and a succession of pampered felines. They also welcomed several "honorary" children into their family over the years, and later their children became like grandchildren to them. Ellen passed away in 1999.
Burton married Joan Stubenrod in 2001. Joan, a book-lover like Royce, was also an avid traveler and they happily began a tradition of fleeing the Texas heat each summer for the cool forests of Wisconsin. Joan passed away in 2012.
When not reading or discussing the merits of Faulkner, Burton was an excellent tennis player, a champion skeet shooter, an avid fisherman, and a ruthless cribbage player. He also made a fine dirty martini. His kind heart, sense of humor and wonderful conversation will be missed.
In addition to his parents and wives, he was preceded in death by his brother Ronald Burton. He is survived by his son Royce Burton Jr. and wife Virginia of Arlington, VA; his daughter Susanna Hunter of Bellingham, WA; two grandchildren, Susannah Burton of London, England and Adam Goad of Seattle, WA; his niece Sydney Burton of Flower Mound, TX; three great grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild. His remains will be interred at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas.
LAIRD FUNERAL HOME
Eventually achieving the rank of Lt. Colonel, Burton began his military career as a member of the Horse Cavalry F Troop, the last troop of horse cavalry in the US. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, he was transferred to the Signal Corps because of his knowledge of Morse code. His twenty-year military career would include serving under Gen. George Patton during WWII and participating in major battles including the Battle of the Bulge. He was also among the US soldiers who liberated imprisoned Jews from Dachau concentration camp. He later served in the Korean Conflict.
Burton met his future wife Ellen Bitting when he was a young soldier stationed in Laredo, TX. When he learned that Ellen's father did not approve of his daughter dating a soldier of low rank, he enrolled in Officer Candidate School. Upon graduation he and Ellen were married.
After retiring from the military Burton, a voracious reader, decided to pursue a new career in academia. He attended the University of Texas at Austin where he received his Bachelor and Master degrees in English. His first teaching job was at the University of New Hampshire. He returned to the University of Texas to get his doctorate but then headed North again, this time to New Jersey where he taught English at Stockton State College and later served as Dean of the Literature and Language Division.
He and Ellen moved to Nacogdoches in 1984 when he retired for the second time. They chose Nacogdoches, having never been there, because it was close enough to world class opera houses in Dallas and Houston to satisfy Ellen's great love, and it was home to a University where Burton would be able to continue teaching as an adjunct professor in the English department. He particularly enjoyed teaching Shakespeare to inmates at the Ferguson Unit of the Texas State Prison System as part of an SFA sponsored outreach program.
The couple loved to travel. During his military career they had lived in Germany, Italy and Japan where they acquired good friends, wonderful memories, and stories that would be shared over countless dinner parties. For many years they rented a house each summer near Salisbury, England. Burton took particular pleasure in his annual trip to Hay-on-Wye, the "city of bookstores," where he spent hours searching for coveted "first editions" and then enjoying a pint at the pub.
Royce and Ellen were married for 58 years and had two children and a succession of pampered felines. They also welcomed several "honorary" children into their family over the years, and later their children became like grandchildren to them. Ellen passed away in 1999.
Burton married Joan Stubenrod in 2001. Joan, a book-lover like Royce, was also an avid traveler and they happily began a tradition of fleeing the Texas heat each summer for the cool forests of Wisconsin. Joan passed away in 2012.
When not reading or discussing the merits of Faulkner, Burton was an excellent tennis player, a champion skeet shooter, an avid fisherman, and a ruthless cribbage player. He also made a fine dirty martini. His kind heart, sense of humor and wonderful conversation will be missed.
In addition to his parents and wives, he was preceded in death by his brother Ronald Burton. He is survived by his son Royce Burton Jr. and wife Virginia of Arlington, VA; his daughter Susanna Hunter of Bellingham, WA; two grandchildren, Susannah Burton of London, England and Adam Goad of Seattle, WA; his niece Sydney Burton of Flower Mound, TX; three great grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild. His remains will be interred at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas.
LAIRD FUNERAL HOME
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