Edgar T. Britton

Edgar Britton was a man of strength and determination, who looked at life positively. He was intelligent and talented and participated in many organizations that gained him great respect throughout his professional career. Most importantly, though, Edgar was a devoted husband, good father and doting grandfather to the people who brought his life extraordinary joy.

The year was 1920 and things were on the upswing for many in the United States. The grim visage of World War I lay smoldering in the distance and many Americans found prosperity working in the newly developed manufacturing sector. In Detroit, Michigan, Harold Hudson Britton and his wife, Fannie Mae (Topping), were enjoying this time of optimism, particularly with the impending arrival of their first child. On February 2, 1920, the couple proudly welcomed the birth of their son, Edgar. Edgar was an only child and grew up in a loving home, where his mother was a wonderful homemaker while his father worked as a Language Professor at the University of Michigan. By the time Edgar was toddling around, his family had moved to Ann Arbor, where he found playmates in his six cousins who lived nearby. Like many young boys, Edgar was also a Boy Scout.

Edgar graduated from University High School in 1938, and went on to attend the University of Michigan, where he earned his teaching degree in 1942. A year later, a wonderful thing happened to Edgar - he met the love of his life, Bess Cook. Edgar was working as a manufacturing inspector of B 24 bombers at the Willow Run Plant in Ypsilanti, and it just so happened that Bess also worked in the same plant in the tool room. The two fell hopelessly in love from their first encounter and were married that same year on November 21, 1943, at the Unitarian Church in Ann Arbor. Their days of being newlyweds were soon over as Edgar received his draft notice from the U.S. Navy shortly after they married. He was stationed on the West Cost at Bremerton Washington, and Klamath Falls Oregon for the duration of the war and Bess was able to stay with him on the naval base.

After being discharged, Edgar and Bess moved to Chicago, Illinois, where they managed the apartment complex they lived in while Edgar utilized his GI Bill and attended the University of Chicago completing his Master's in political science. After graduating in 1947, Edgar took a job at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, teaching Political Science for the next three years. Then in 1951, he accepted a position with the field staff of the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, (The March of Dimes). He served in Indiana at the time of the Salk vaccine field trials for the polio vaccine and later transferred to Ohio. It was during this time that Edgar and Bess became the proud parents of two sons, Ron born in 1953, and Bruce born in 1957. Then in 1958, Edgar became a Regional Director for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society for a ten state area. He later became the Executive Director of the Chicago Multiple Sclerosis Society. When he went to work as the Executive Director of the Illinois Arthritis Foundation in 1964, Edgar moved his family to Lawton, Michigan, where his wife's family had lived, and he commuted from Chicago to home on the weekends. His last career move was in 1974, when he became Executive Director of the Illinois Society for the Prevention of Blindness which also operated the Illinois Eye Bank for Corneal transplants.He retired in 1988 and became a full time resident of Lawton with Bess and his family.

Edgar had a generous spirit and loved to give of his time and talents. Just because he was retired didn't stop him from continuing to serve in one way or another in his community. From 1990 to 2003, he was the Executive Director of the Van Buren County United Way, and also served as the Decatur Township Representative to Lakeview Community Hospital in Paw Paw. He was the former president of the Van Buren County Historical Society, member of the Decatur Friends of the Library and an active U of M Alumni. He received many honors in the Health field during his long career. He was President of the Chicago Society of Fundraising Executives, long time board member of the Eye Bank Association and officer with the National Association of Vision Screeners. He also served with the Social Service Communication Society.

When it came to his leisure time, Edgar was a loyal supporter of his alma mater, U of M, football, and was a big fan of the Detroit Tigers until he moved to Chicago and became a fan of the White Sox and Cubs. Sometimes, he would watch a game on TV and listen to another one on the radio at the same time. Edgar always had a keen interest in politics and kept abreast on the current events and the political climate. In recent years, he enjoyed watching murder mysterious on TV, as well as CSI, 60 Minutes, the McLaughlin Group and daily news. Edgar had a soft heart for his cats, too, especially Frosty and Zoe.

Because Edgar's work kept him quite busy and away from his family a lot, every moment they had together was treasured. He and Bess shared many delights and heartaches together during their fifty-nine years of marriage, and later shared in the joys their grandchildren would bring them. They loved to travel and took several fantastic cruises to places like Hawaii, Alaska, St. Lawrence Seaway and visited Russia. Edgar and Bess also enjoyed going out to dinner, trying all kinds of different restaurants, though their favorites remained Fisher Lake Inn and Stone Ridge Inn. When Bess' health began to deteriorate, Edgar tenderly cared for her at home, so she wouldn't have to go to a nursing home. And if that wasn't enough, after he had open-heart surgery in 2001, he cared for himself as well. Heartbreakingly, Bess died on August 10, 2003. In the last year, Edgar had been living in the nursing home after developing CHF, and died at Lakeview Community Hospital in Paw Paw, on October 2nd, from pneumonia.

Edgar had many endearing qualities - he was loving, kind-hearted, hardworking, wise, funny and always full of life. Throughout his life, he consistently showed his dedication to people, not just through the profession he chose, but the life he chose to lead. He will be greatly missed.

He is survived by his sons Ron, of Lawton, Bruce (Candy), of Marcellus, 5 grand children, Nathaniel, Nannette, Natalie, Nicole, Kevin (Kylie), and great grandson Kale. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews. A private family graveside service will be held with burial in Chamberlain Cemetery. Please visit Edgar's web page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can read his life story, view his life story film, sign the guest book, archive a memory or make a memorial contribution to the charity of your choice. Arrangements by Life Story Funeral Home-Betzler & Thompson 60900 M-40 Paw Paw 657-3870.