Joe Burson, 88, of Huntsville, passed away at his home on Monday morning. Mr. Burson was born in Birmingham, Alabama, to the late Mr. and Mrs. James Willis Burson. Upon graduation from Woodlawn High School, he joined the Naval Reserve as an Apprentice Seaman and attended the University of Texas in Austin. He later served as a Fireman 2nd Class on the USS LST 655 in the Pacific during World War II. After the war, he returned to the University of Texas where he completed his B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering in 1948.
Mr. Burson worked for Republic Steel in Gadsden from 1948 to 1951. During that time, he married Martha Ann Boone, his loving wife of 59 years, on February 12, 1949. She preceded him in death in April, 2008. He moved to Huntsville in 1951 to work for Redstone Arsenal and later worked for the Army Ballastic Missile Agency. In 1960, he transferred to NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. He worked on every space program from the Jupiter through the Space Shuttle and was honored to receive the Silver Snoopy Award. He retired from his position as Deputy Branch Chief in the Astrionics Laboratory in 1994 after 46 years of government service.
Mr. Burson was an active member of First Presbyterian Church where he served as a Deacon, an Elder and helped with church-built Habitat Houses. He was also an active member of the Kiwanis Club of South Huntsville where he served in many capacities, including President, and worked with the Opportunity Center and Safety City. Mr. Burson was honored to be a torchbearer for the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and to be flown to Washington, DC, on an Honor Flight in 2009 to visit the WWII Memorial.
He was predeceased by five brothers, one sister and his son-in-law, Thomas Samford, IV.
Survivors include his two daughters, Rebecca McElreath (Houston) of Huntsville and Janice Samford of Montgomery; one sister, Mary Margaret Harrington of Bessemer; three granddaughters, Jennifer Samford Morgan (Dwayne), Lauren Samford Sievers (Chase), and Heather Samford; one grandson, Alan McElreath; three great-grandsons, Austin, Anthony and Michael Morgan; one great-granddaughter, Destiny Morgan; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Thursday at Laughlin Service Funeral Home. A graveside service will be at 1:00 p.m. Friday at Maple Hill Cemetery, followed by a memorial service at 2:00 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Mark Mueller officiating.
Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church.
