Joe Peter Burton ’66

Joe Peter Burton ’66, of Rochester, Minn., passed away after a lengthy illness Sept. 16, 2012. Burton was born Dec. 25, 1943, to Jenny Lou Brim Burton and William Clinard Burton in Pine Hall, N.C. He attended Davidson for two years before enlisting in the U.S. Air Force, where he served as a Vietnamese linguist in the Vietnam War. Burton completed a B.A. and M.A. in psychology at UNC Greensboro, and later pursued an Ed.S. in counselor education at the University of Florida in Gainesville. Burton served as an ESL teacher for several years. He loved teaching and served as instructor of psychology for 10 years at Santa Fe Community College in Gainesville, Fla., and for seven years at RCTC in Rochester. In 2011, he was voted by students as Outstanding Part-Time Educator of the year at RCTC. Burton was dedicated to his students and always learned their names. He was a demanding but fair instructor, who taught life lessons as well as book learning. Burton was active in his church community and served as a member of the ECKANKAR clergy for many years. He was devoted to his family and friends and always willing to lend a helping hand or listening ear. He was known for his kind and wise ways, quiet sense of humor, and stories. In his adult years, he was rarely far from a Frisbee and became a very good disc golfer. Burton and his wife, Sharon, enjoyed multiple second honeymoon trips to Europe and Canada. Burton’s love for languages and culture led to family trips to Germany and one to Japan. Burton is preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Paul William Burton, and his sister, Roberta Manno. Burton is survived by his wife, Sharon Steele Burton, 3908 Chipshot Ln. SE, Rochester, MN 55904-6726; his sisters, Shirley Moore and Betty Washburn; brother, Alan Ray Burton; and four children, Peter Eric Burton, Joseph Adam Burton, Paul Allen Burton, and Jennifer Burton Wilkinson.