LUTHER JOHN “BURT” BURLESON
1929-2022
HOUSTON - Luther John “Burt” Burleson, 93, passed away peacefully in Houston, Texas on March 27, 2022.
A memorial service to honor Luther’s life will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 6th in the Chapel of Chapelwood United Methodist Church 11140 Greenbay
St. Houston, Texas 77024.
A private graveside interment will be held at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Fort Worth, Texas.
Memorials: In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Chapelwood Foundation at www.chapelwood.org.
Luther was born in Vera, Texas on January 27, 1929 to Emma Ellen and Julian David Burleson and lived most of his life in Fort Worth, Texas. He graduated from Tech High School, where he was captain of the baseball team. After High School he went on to play baseball at TCU and was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Team to play in the minor league system in Hazard North Carolina. Long bus rides and little pay were not suitable to his ambition, so he returned to Fort Worth and enrolled in Texas Wesleyan University where he met Jane Trout, the love of his life.
He and Jane went on to complete their master’s degrees in education. After a brief career as a safety engineer for Commercial Standard Insurance Company, Luther got his first teaching job at Haltom High School as a Distributive Education Teacher. Although his career would advance considerably over the years, his time teaching and helping kids learn job skills was the happiest part of his long career in education.
Over the years, Luther advanced through increasing levels of responsibility and ultimately became the Director of Vocational Education in the Birdville Independent School District in Fort
Worth. His passion for helping people learn skills and get jobs extended far beyond his work in the schools. He was instrumental in helping countless friends and family find a job.
Luther was a born leader and passionate about serving his community. He was National President of The Traveler’s Protective Association “TPA”, President of the Lions Club and NE Kiwanis Club. He coached all three of his sons in their sports activities and was a Deacon in the Baptist Church.
Luther loved to travel with his family and every summer took the family on long driving vacations to destinations from Los Angeles to New York City. Most of the travel was combined with his duties in TPA, which helped underwrite the travel expenses. Sports and country music were a constant source of conversation and enjoyment even in his final days. He loved the Longhorns but had a special place in his heart for the Horned Frogs.
Over the years, Luther overcame much adversity, including prostate cancer, quadruple bypass heart surgery, loss of his right leg, Breakthrough Delta Variant Covid and Omicron Covid. Through it all, he maintained his bright optimism, grateful spirit and love of God. After losing Jane in 2012, Luther moved to Houston to be closer to his sons, Rick and Mark.
Luther was preceded in death by his parents, Emma and Julian Burleson; older brother, Charlie Burleson; younger sister, Katherine Burleson Graves; his son, John Ross Burleson; daughter-in-law, Kimberly Yates Burleson; cousin, Clyde Sellers; and Jane, his beloved wife of 60 years.
He is survived by his sons, Rick Burleson and wife, Cecily, Mark Burleson and wife, Blake; grandchildren, Richard Lynn Burleson Jr., Justin Edward Burleson and wife, Callie, John Samuel Burleson, Madeline Burleson, Davis Burleson; brotherin-law, David Richeson and wife, Sally; and a large extended family who loved and respected him.
The family wishes to thank the team at The Farrington at Tanglewood, including Glenda Clerc, and the caring team at Altus Hospice, including Idy Akazue.