Ronald Burton Ph.D.

Ronald Burton, PhD.

We are mourning the loss of a great husband, brother, father, and grandfather. Dr. Ronald Burton, former long-time resident of Muncie, Indiana died in the loving arms of his family on January 5, 2021. He was 89 years old.

Ronald (Ron to his friends, Ronnie to his parents) was born on December 6, 1931 in Brooklyn, NY to parents Fannie and Danny Berkowitz. After graduating from Lincoln High School in 1949, he attended classes at Brooklyn College at night, and worked for an uncle as a glazier, installing windows in residential buildings.

In September 1951, Ronald enlisted in the US Air Force to participate in the Korean War Conflict. After basic training in San Antonio, Texas, he was stationed in Shreveport, Louisiana with the Strategic Air Command. Subsequent postings included French Morocco and Upper Hayford, England. Ron received his honorable discharge in January, 1955.

After the military, Ronald returned to Brooklyn College to pursue his undergraduate degree in Psychology and Sociology. There he met Mona Claire Mason in a biology lecture class. They were married on December 22, 1956. Together, they changed their surnames from Berkowitz to Burton. Both graduated from Brooklyn College in July 1957. Ron was subsequently awarded a Master's Degree in Sociology from the University of Michigan and a PhD in Sociology at Michigan State University.

After teaching college classes at the University of South Florida and the University of Toledo, the Burton family moved to Muncie, Indiana in 1972, where Ron was a Ball State University Sociology Professor for 32 years. He was well liked by both his students and his fellow professors. Ron's love for sociology brought him to conferences on social stratification and his deep concern for the socioeconomic status of many different groups of people. He truly cared about the poor and the underrepresented groups and people in society.

Ron was active in the leadership of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Muncie, Indiana. Ron also regularly volunteered with Mona on the phone banks at the WBST Muncie Indiana public radio station (NPR 92.1 FM) during their fund drives.

At home, Ron was known for his dry sense of humor, his quick wit, his infectious smile, and his kind and compassionate spirit. He was a loving father and grandfather who delighted in reading to, and playing with, his four children and nine grandchildren. When his own children were young, Mona and Ron were fixtures at their events at Burris Laboratory School in Muncie. Later in life, they often drove or flew across the country as many of his grandchildren's important events that he could. During the Christmas holidays, all 19 Burton family members would gather in Muncie. While there, Ron loved taking his children and grandchildren to watch Star Wars movies and action movies. His diabetes later in life slowed down his love for sweets, but he would always sneak a honey mound or a Twinkie when no one was looking.

After 47 years in Muncie, Indiana Ron and Mona moved to Freedom, Pennsylvania, where he died after a brief illness. Ron is survived by his wife of 64 years; Mona, his daughter Elise (husband Brian) Burton Cutler of Herndon, Virginia, his daughter Inga (husband Paul) Burton-Smith of Wexford, Pennsylvania; his son Lowell (wife Jennifer) Burton of Goodlettsville, Tennessee; and his daughter Stephanie (husband Noah) Burton-Doyle of Zionsville, Indiana. Survivors also include brother Sheldon Berkowitz of Las Vegas, Nevada; and grandchildren Dawn (husband Thuy) Cutler-Tran of Reston, Virginia; Gina Cutler of Richmond, Virginia; Ford and Isley Smith of Wexford, Pennsylvania; Jake and Emma Burton of Goodlettsville, Tennessee; and Daniel, Max, and Mason Doyle of Zionsville, Indiana.

In lieu of flowers, please send memorial contributions to the Unitarian Universalist Church of Muncie, Indiana at uuchurchmuncie.org (4800 W Bradford Drive Muncie IN 47304) or to WBST Muncie Indiana public radio station (NPR) at indianapublicradio.org (WBST 92.1FM, Letterman Communications and Media Building, #128, Muncie, IN 47306). Arrangements entrusted to Sperling Funeral Home, Wexford, PA Remebrances may be left at www.sperlingfuneral.com.