Obituary of Robert Glenn Burton

Funeral services for Robert Glenn Burton, 79, Troup are scheduled for 1:00 pm, Tuesday, February 3, 2015, at Cottle Funeral Home Chapel, Troup with Reverend Wes Bynum officiating. Burial will be in the Whitehouse Cemetery. Mr. Burton went to be with the Lord Saturday, January 31, 2015 after a long struggle with congestive heart failure. Robert was born September 24, 1935, in Concord to the late Alton M. and Mary Lee Roberson Burton. He attended Carlisle Schools, graduating in 1953. He grew up attending the Henry’s Chapel United Methodist Church, of which he was still a member and where he had served as song leader. Drafted in 1958 to the U.S. Army, he served in Korea during peace time. Upon completion of basic training, he returned to Troup and married his sweetheart, Lanelle Pruitt, January 29, 1958. They had met when she worked the ticket booth and concession counter at the Troup Movie Theater in the 1950’s. They were married for 29 years until her death, April 19, 1988. They had two children, children Cindy and Mike. They lived in Georgia and Pasadena, Texas before returning to Troup in 1970 to work for GE, which later became Trane. Robert retired from Trane in 1996. He was employed by Cottle Funeral Homes from 1996 until his retirement in 2013. He volunteered many hours for the Troup Athletic Booster Club and later on he and Lanelle both served as President of the Band Booster Club. He and Lanelle went everywhere with the band, driving the instrument van to the games and serving sodas to the band members after half time. Those who knew Robert knew he was a character who loved life and laughed a lot. He loved to go places and eat out. He was an avid sports fan and enjoyed gardening and sharing his home-grown tomatoes with many over the years. He loved to tinker around his place, especially to work on his lawn mowers. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Lanelle Pruitt Burton; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, W.A. and Bernice Pruitt, and long time friend Ducky Tennison. Survivors include a daughter and son-in-law, Cindy and David Swinney of Whitehouse; a son, Mike Burton of San Francisco, California; a grandson, Seth Swinney of Whitehouse; a sister and brother-in-law, Diana and Larry Maberry of Whitehouse; many cousins; and a host of friends. Pallbearers will Seth Swinney, Anthony Martin, Wes Barron, Gene Cottle, Phillip Washington and Doug Steele. Honorary Pallbearers will be M.J. Florence, Larry Maberry, Vester Tennison and the Dairy Queen Coffee Group. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, Monday, February 2. Special Thank Yous go out to the staff of Continue Care Hospital in Tyler; Homepointe Health Care; Lorinda and the bunch at Farmer’s Cafe; and Gene and Phyllis Cottle and the entire staff of Cottle Funeral Home.