Allen Wells Burton's Obituary
Allen Wells Burton died peacefully on Saturday, July 12, 2003, three days before his 89th birthday. The memorial service celebrating his life will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, July 18, at the First Methodist Church with Reverend David Lindwall and Reverend Bill Cunningham officiating. Services are under the direction of Rader
Funeral Home.
Burton, born in 1914, was the seventh child of Allen Walker and Josephine Burton. He crossed Missouri from Kansas City to St. Louis to get degrees in economics and English literature with Phi Beta Kappa honors at Washington University.
He had wanted to be a newspaper man ever since high school days, when he was inspired by Booth Tarkington?s novel, ?Gentleman from Indiana,? which depicted a rather romantic notion of newspapering. He headed South to Texas to escape the cold winters, making his way eventually to Longview in his Model A Ford sedan, which had been converted for sleeping. This was during the Great Depression in 1938. He told of parking along the Kilgore highway, overlooking the lights of Longview, the sleepless night before his successful interview with Longview News publisher, Carl Estes.
Many interesting news stories and interviews followed in the next months, but none had more lasting impact on his life than his interview of Ruth Still, who had recently returned from a trip to China, Japan and the Philippines in 1939. This lucky meeting led to their marriage, which Burton expressed as the ?greatest gift of my life.? They would have celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary in November.
Burton both wrote and edited news stories. His writing really sparkled when he reviewed cultural events, especially Civic Music and the Longview Symphony. He often remarked that visual imagery, surprising metaphor and short Anglo-Saxon words give zest to writing.
Along with journalism, Burton, influenced by his father-in-law, Rudd Still, became a cattle rancher. He accepted the challenge to make East Texas soil produce cow-fattening grasses, to streamline hay-feeding, and to breed Charolais, Limousin and Semental cattle. He was chairman of the forty-county-area BET Build East Texas organization, which was largely responsible for initiating the highly successful winter pasture program. In 1973, he received the grand champion award for a pen of steers fattened only on winter pasture.
Burton?s wish, ?to live life deeply,? led him to become immersed in helping Longview to successfully develop in many ways, often becoming the director of civic organizations as: Texas Eastman Community Advisory Board, Longview Community Chest, Salvation Army; and a worker in the United Fund Drive. In the Rotary Club, he received the ?Tom Putman? award, the ?President?s Award? for outstanding service, and ?Editor of the Outstanding Rotary Bulletin.? He was a member of the board of stewards as well as chairman of the First Methodist?s music committee; a long-time supporter and associate of LeTourneau University; a member of the Longview Men?s Garden Club and Gregg County Historical Museum.
He deeply believed in the value of theater and music for the health of the community and participated as founding director of the Longview Community Theater and the Longview Symphony League. He worked for 23 years to help the symphony grow from an amateur orchestra to the present wholly professional ensemble. He served as publicist for the orchestra, editor/writer of ?Symphony News,? helped extend the T. G. Field Auditorium stage to improve the acoustics, and secured grants to fund concerts. He was instrumental in purchasing and installing sound systems in several Longview elementary school cafeterias for playing symphonic music, giving children the opportunity to hear classical music and grow in appreciation of it. Because of his effective and indefatigable work for the Longview Symphony, he was honored as one of the ?People Who Make a Difference,? ?Mr. Symphony,? and by the Federated Clubs, ?Man of the Year.?
Burton, himself, was a musician, a skilled and dedicated pianist of classical music, often playing Chopin, Beethoven, Bach, Mendlessohn, and Brahms well into the night. As ?Dad? and ?Pappè,? he was actively involved in his children?s and grandchildren?s educational development, always asking pertinent questions to spur thinking.
Wells Burton was preceded in death by four sisters and one brother. He is survived by his wife, Ruth Burton of Longview; two daughters: Judy B. Wells of Deming, NM, and Linda Smith and husband Dick, of Longview; four grandchildren: Julie Shannon of Portland, OR; Elaine Shannon of Austin, David Uygur and wife, Jennifer, of Dallas; Emel Linda Given and husband, Kevin of Houston; two sisters: Esther Moulthrop of Bethany, MO, and Beatrice Sainer of Waterville, KA; and many nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Longview Symphony League, Box 1825, Longview, TX 75606 or LeTourneau Student Scholarship Fund, 2100 Mobberly, Longview, TX 75602 or Greater Hospice of Texas, 814 Gilmer Rd, Suite 1, Longview, TX 75604.
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