Lee Charles Burton

Lee Charles Burton, Commander, U.S. Naval Reserve (retired), born June 8, 1925, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, went to the Lord on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2013. He was preceded in death by his wife of fifty-four years, RoseMarie Anderson Burton; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Carl R. Burton; his brothers, Samuel F. Burton, Carl R. Burton, Jr, and Charles Lee Burton; and his sister, Patricia J. Mayes. He is survived by his brother, James R. Burton, St. Louis, MO; and his children: J. Katharine Burton (CAPT USN (ret)) and her husband John; John C. Burton (CDR USN (ret)) and his wife Sharon; RosaLee Burton (CTM1 USN (ret)); C. Patrick Burton and his wife Trina; Mary M. Burton Miller and her husband Gregory; Regina T. Burton Nelson; and Christopher F. Burton (SSGT USMC (ret)) and his wife Sharon; twenty grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. Lee was a lifelong Catholic and a longtime member of St. Francis of Assisi Church. He was in the Knights of Columbus Council #4601, a Sir Knight of the 4th Degree and a member of Assembly 848. He served our country in the United States Navy from WWII until the 1980s as an active duty pilot and reserve intelligence officer. He was a geologist for the U.S. Geological Survey for fifteen years; Benham-Blair Engineering; and then as an engineer for the Oklahoma State Water Resources Board, retiring in 1995 after twenty-four years of service. Visitation will begin on Feb. 11th at 9 a.m., followed by an Evening Prayer Service at 7 p.m. at Smith & Kernke N.W. 23rd. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Feb. 12th at 10 a.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, OKC. Lee's final resting place will be Rose Hill Burial Park, OKC, with his beloved wife. Memorials: Father Schettler Endowment Fund for Rosary School or the Knights of Columbus Council #4601.