Obituary of Donald F. Burton, Sr.

Donald F. Burton, Sr. 86, of Cooney Rd. Pomfret, passed away in to eternal life Wednesday July 28, 2010 surrounded by family members after a short battle with cancer. He was the beloved husband of Shirley C. (Thomas) Burton, they were married on March 4, 1946. He was born January 9, 1924 in Moosup, son of the late Francis and Flora (Wood) Burton. He attended the Sterling Schools and PHS. Upon completion of his education he worked in the CCC camps. He worked at Royal Metals then at PWA. In 1943 he joined the armed services, upon his honorable discharge he worked at Arrow-Hart as an inspector for 15 years. Then he worked at Underwriters Laboratories, where he was the senior field representative for 24 years, retiring in 1986. He was a lector at St. Ignatius for over 20 years. He loved spending time with his grandchildren and family, he also loved hunting, fishing, was an avid reader and enjoyed gardening. He was a former member of Pomfret Rod & Gun Club, Lions Club, WWII Tank Corps Association, VFW, Selectman in Pomfret, member of the Board of Finance and Board of Education in Pomfret. He was one of the first to cross the bridge at Remagen. His Battle awards were from: Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Central Europe and took part in the Battle of the Bulge. He was in the Ninth Armor Division and part of the D-Day Invasion of Normandy. He leaves his wife Shirley of Pomfret, sons Donald Burton Jr. and his wife Peggy of Pomfret Center, Terence Burton of Bedford, NH, sister Patricia Gulino and her husband Joseph of East Hampton, five grandchildren, five great grandchildren, many nieces and nephews. The funeral Mass will be Saturday July 31, 2010 at 10:00 AM at St. Joseph Church, 350 Hartford Pike Dayville, CT. Calling Hours will be Friday July 30, 2010 from 6:00 to 9:00PM at Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St. Danielson, CT. Burial with Military Honors will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery Dayville, CT. To share a memory with his family, "Light a Candle" at www.gagnonandcostellofh.com