Britton, Walter, Jr., CSM

CSM(R) Walter Britton Jr.

Obituary

FAYETTEVILLE - Walter "Buddy" Britton Jr., 91, of Fayetteville, beloved husband of Frances Lippencott Britton for 69 years, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2012, surrounded by the ones he laughed with, lived for and loved. Walter was born in Gowen, Okla., on Aug. 8, 1921, the eldest of nine children. He graduated from Hartsthorne High School, where he was the football quarterback. He helped his parents farm their land and was an award-winning rodeo competitor in his youth. After high school, during the Great Depression, he served in the Civilian Conservation Corps. He enlisted in the Navy and served in the South Pacific during World War II. He attended Oklahoma A&M University (now Oklahoma State University), where he studied civil engineering. He was called back to military service and served in the Korean War and Vietnam War. He retired from the Army Special Forces in 1967, achieving the rank of command sergeant major. He was a member of the Special Forces Association. During his full and active life, Walter learned several languages, was a voracious reader, a skier and an avid gardener. He enjoyed fishing, cooking, classic Western movies, "pure" country music, a good joke and a clever tale. He loved to dance an energetic jitterbug or a smooth two-step with Frances. He was predeceased by his dearly loved son, David; his parents, Walter Britton Sr. and Pearl Sue Battles Britton; his brothers, Johnny "Jack" Britton and Charles William "CW" Britton; and his sisters, Winnie Masoner and Lucille Perkins. Besides his wife, Frances of Fayetteville, Walter is survived by his brothers, Benjamin Britton and James Britton; sisters, Juanita Burnette and Ann Springer; his four sons, Robert of Fayetteville, James of Columbus, Ohio, Daniel and his wife, Carol, of Harrisburg, Thomas and his wife, Luz, of Fayetteville; three daughters, Kathleen Boone of Fayetteville, Bonnie and her husband, Bill Collins, of Atlanta, and Nancy Robles of Hope Mills; his grandchildren, Vanessa, Shauna, Tyler, Adam, Hunter, Bryan, Walter, Laurel, Eric, Andrew, Karen and Natalie; his great-grandchildren, Kaitlin and Ava; as well as numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends. We thank God for the gift of his life and the blessing of the time we spent with Walter. A memorial service will be held honoring Walter in the chapel of Adcock Funeral Home & Crematory in Spring Lake on Thursday, Sept. 6, 2012, at 11 a.m. Burial will follow in Sandhills State Veterans Cemetery in Spring Lake, at noon with military honors. The family will receive friends and relatives at a visitation at the funeral home from 6 to 8 p.m. today, Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2012. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital , 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Services entrusted to Adcock Funeral Home & Crematory of Spring Lake.

Published in Fayetteville Observer on September 5, 2012