Oswald Burton

1920 - 2015

Oswald James Burton

Salisbury-Oswald James Burton, MD, 94, of Salisbury passed away on Sunday, April 12, 2015 at Coastal Hospice At The Lake. He was born September 8, 1920 in Assam, India, the son of the late Scottish parents, William and Willis Burton.

Dr. Burton lived in India for his first seven years, then returned with his parents to Scotland. Following graduation from high school, he worked briefly in London, then enlisted in the London Scottish Regiment in 1939, as World War Two began. He served for six years in various military capacities, including as a liaison to the 8th Gurkha Army, and rising to the rank of major.

Following military service, he enrolled in the University of Edinburgh Medical School, graduating in 1951. He met his future wife, Lilian Sinclair Burton, in Edinburgh. They later married in Erie, Pennsylvania, where he was interning. He then served his residency at Milford Memorial Hospital in Delaware, and then moved to Salisbury, where he established a general practice with Dr. Andrew Mitchell.

Dr. Burton spent two years in England training in internal medicine, and then established a partnership with Drs. David Gilmore and Wilbur Ellis. Their practice added several local physicians over the years, and later, Dr. Burton went on his own in a solo private practice.

After moving to the US, he and Lilian were enchanted by the national and state parks, where they enjoyed camping and hiking. He also enjoyed playing tennis, listening to classical and jazz music, traveling and going for long walks with his family and his dogs.

During his 50 years as a local doctor, he was well regarded as a brilliant diagnostician, and beloved by his many patients, who deeply appreciated his caring, thoughtful approach to medicine. He retired in 2005 at the age of 84, having been named to the Scottish Board of Internal Medicine, the American Board of Internal Medicine, Board of Neuro Physiology, Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, and Fellow of the American College of Physicians. He also served as Chief of Medicine at Peninsula Regional Medical Center.

He is survived by his sister, Olive Middleton, of Castle Douglas, Scotland, his three children, David, of Olney, Maryland, Alastair, of Orlando, Florida, and Willis Elizabeth Anne Theibert, of Birmingham, Alabama, six grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. His wife Lilian, brother Charles, and sister Willis predeceased him.

A memorial service will be held at Holloway Funeral Home on Saturday, April 18 at 3 pm with a visitation one hour prior to the service. Officiating will be Rev. Barry Groh.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Humane Society of the United States or to Coastal Hospice, P.O. Box 1733, Salisbury, MD 21802.

Arrangements are in the care of Holloway Funeral Home, PA, 501 Snow Hill Road, Salisbury, MD 21804. Please visit www.hollowayfh.com to express condolences to the family.