Robert Edward Burton

Robert E. "Bob" Burton Formerly of San Rafael, passed away peacefully in Santa Rosa, CA, on August 27, 2016. He was 88. Bob was born in Utica, New York, but his father moved his family to San Francisco to find work during hard economic times, when he was an infant, and he always considered San Francisco his home. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Cavalry at 18, in 1946, but eventually he became a surveyor in the Sixth Army Corps of Engineers. He was stationed in Vienna, Austria; Tokyo, Japan; Stuttgart, Germany; Seoul, South Korea; and Heidelberg, Germany. After 22 years, he retired in 1968, at the Presidio of San Francisco. Following his military career, he worked for Oberkamper and Associates Civil Engineers, Inc., in San Rafael, until his retirement. Bob married Agnes "Netty" Johnston, of Paisley, Scotland, on June 18, 1949, in San Francisco. He was a member of the Grand Lodge Free and Accepted Masons of California, and the Masonic Lodge in San Francisco, the First Presbyterian Church of San Rafael, and Sons in Retirement (SIR) Branch 68 of San Rafael. He had a passion for trains, especially model railroading, along with photography, square and round dancing, and traveling, whether it be by car, ship, or train. He is survived by his wife Netty, of 67 years; daughter Lynn Lackey (James) of DeSoto, TX; son David E. Burton (Eleanor) of Rohnert Park, CA; three grandchildren James R. Lackey, Sara Britton and Jessica Lackey-Kaplan; and four great-grandchildren Bryen, Daisy, Olivia, and Benjamin. He was predeceased by his parents Glenn and Doris Burton, and his two younger brothers, Glenn, Jr., and David H. Burton. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospice, 439 College Ave., Santa Rosa, CA 95401, or a charity of your choice . Condolences can be sent to: David Burton, 4552 Heron Court, Rohnert Park, CA 94928. A celebration of life for family and friends will be held Tuesday, November 22, 2016, at 11:00 AM, at First Presbyterian Church, 1510 Fifth Avenue, in San Rafael. Interment will be at Cypress Lawn Memorial Park, in Colma.