Harold E. Burditt, 87, passed away Monday, September 21, 2009 in an Austin, Texas hospital. He was born April 16, 1922 in Del Rio, Texas to Ira Frank and Helen Emily Hawkes Burditt.
Mr. Burditt graduated from Del Rio High School in 1940 and attended Texas A&M University for one year before being drafted into the Army Air Corps to serve in World War II. After he was discharged in 1944 he packed up his bags and headed to North Texas State College where it is reported he was personally responsible for the 24/7 Pinochle game at his fraternity house!
On a summer trip to McAllen to visit his cousin, Betty, he met and fell in love with her best friend and the love of his life, Cathryn Baldwin. She followed him to NTSC and they were married December 28, 1950.
After his graduation, they lived in Del Rio where Mr. Burditt worked in the family grocery business. When Burditt and Sons Grocery closed in the 1960's he began his career as a math and Distributive Education teacher.
While teaching school Mr. Burditt earned his Master of Arts from Sul Ross State College. In the spring of 1968, Mr. Burditt moved his family to Austin help create a new division at the Texas Education Agency where he worked until his retirement. Without a doubt, his favorite occupation was retirement, especially when his Cathy retired and they set out to see and do every estate sale between here and Tennessee.
Let the collecting begin! Nary an antique hammer, rolling pin, cane, ice pick, yard stick, lamb, cookbook, or ceramic village pass them by and not come home to their home filled with an enormous quantity of different treasures.
Mr. Burditt was preceded in death by Cathryn Burditt, his wife of 52 years, his brother Ira, Jr. and his parents.
His children Hal of Montalba, C. Kay Gooch of Austin, and Jan Floyd and husband Kenny of Taylor survive him. Papa will be missed by his grandchildren: Traci, Jack, and Cassie Floyd; Elizabeth and Edward Gooch; and Rebecca Burditt; and his grand-dog and companion, Emmy-Baby.
The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, September 23, 2009 at Cook Walden Funeral Home, 6100 N. Lamar Blvd, Austin.
Graveside services will be Thursday, September 24, 2009 at 10:00 a.m., at Cook Walden Capital Parks, 14501 North IH-35, Pflugerville.
In lieu of flowers, donations in the name of Harold and Cathryn Burditt, may be made to BookSpring (formerly RIF), P. O. Box 143147, Austin, Texas 78714 or www.bookspring.org.