Mr. Benjamin Harold Burrow

HAROLD BURROW, age 95, passed away peacefully at home on the 15th of August 2010. Benjamin Harold Burrow was born on the 1st of December 1914, at home on the farm of his parents, Benjamin Donald and Minnie Weaver Burrow, near the village of Courtney in Grimes County, Texas. He was the fifth of their six children. Shortly thereafter, the family moved to Navasota, Texas where he grew up. At the age of 20, he moved to Houston and got a job with The Continental Supply Company, beginning a long and distinguished career in the oil field supply and natural gas pipeline business. In 1943, living in Corpus Christi, he became one of the first five employees of the newly formed Tennessee Gas Transmission Company (later Tenneco, Inc.). He was the purchasing agent responsible for acquiring the materials necessary to build a 24-inch pipeline to transport natural gas from Texas to the east coast of the United States. It was over a thousand miles long, cost $66 million and was built in 13 months. He continued his career with Tenneco, ultimately becoming President in 1960 and then retiring in 1966 after 23 years. He continued his involvement in the regulated natural gas business until 1974 when he was asked to become a court appointed Director of The Coastal Corporation. He then became Vice Chairman of Coastal and Chairman of the Boards of Colorado Interstate Gas Company, American Natural Resources, American Natural Gas Pipeline and Coastal Natural Gas Company. He retired in 2000 at the age of 85.

In 1942, he met and married the love of his life, Vassa Irene Woodley, who was from Bellville, Texas. They were married for almost 64 years until her death in December, 2005. They loved their family deeply. Their hope and prayer was that the family would always be close to each other. At every family gathering, he had a special prayer which he would give that would reinforce that desire. Their son, Larry Woodley Burrow, also predeceased them. He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law Harry Weaver Burrow and Nancy Allen Burrow, his daughter and son-in-law Kathy Burrow Vermillion and C. Richard Vermillion, Jr. and his daughter-in-law Patsy McCafferty Burrow. Six grandchildren survive him. They are Jeffrey Woodley Burrow and wife Jessica, Holden Woodley Burrow and wife Shana, Clifford Wallace Burrow, C. Richard Vermillion III and wife Julia, Julie Burrow Dorbandt and husband Kenny and Robert Benjamin Vermillion and wife Maggie. Fourteen great grandchildren survive him. They are Madeleine, Miles and Seth Burrow; Woodley and Russell Burrow; Berkley and Connor Burrow; Lydia and Cecily Vermillion; Thomas, Benjamin and William Dorbandt; Abigail and Leighton Vermillion. His family wishes to express their deep appreciation to his devoted caregivers, Cynthia Bruns, Michele Browne, Venita Walker, and Vicki Johnson, and all the people with Houston Hospice.

He was a devoted and life-long Christian. He was a founding member of Westminster Methodist Church and a 40-plus year member of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church. He received the U.S. Bureau of Mines Medal of Honor for men in the minerals industries who risk their lives to save others, when in December 1960 on the way to a Christmas party he dove into the rain-swollen Woodway Ditch and rescued a man who had accidently driven his car into the 5-foot deep water. He held the man’s head above water until help arrived. He was a founding member of the Coronado Club, a former member of The Petroleum Club and The Ramada Club. He enjoyed bass fishing, the cattle business, gin rummy, deer and dove hunting. During his later years he had an office in his home and worked daily on his computer turning out books on his family genealogy and diverse books of pictures for his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

A memorial service is to be conducted at eleven o’clock in the morning on Wednesday, the 18th of August, in the Sanctuary of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 3471 Westheimer Road in Houston, where Rev. Peter Miller, Pastor of Caring Ministries, is to officiate.

Immediately following the service, all are invited to greet the family during a reception in the adjacent Hines Baker Room.

Prior to the memorial service, the family will have gathered for a private interment service at Memorial Oaks Cemetery in Houston.

In lieu of customary remembrances, contributions in memory of Mr. Burrow may be directed to St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, P. O. Box 22013, Houston, TX, 77227-2013; The Star of Hope Mission, P. O. Box 1505, Houston, TX, 77251-1505; or to the charity of one’s choice.