Billy R. Burdette

Billy R. "Buddy" or "Bill" Burdette passed away on Sunday, March 19, 2023, at his home in Howell Michigan due to complications from a rare lung disease. His wife Anne Burdette preceded him and death. Buddy was born November 23, 1934, in Clanton, Alabama to Thomas Reese Burdette and Eula Garrick Burdette. Buddy attended Chilton County High School in Clanton, Alabama and was president of the senior class. After graduation he attended Auburn University where he was a member of Delta Sigma Phi, social fraternity, where he sat as the Chapter Secretary, and Phi Mu Alpha, honorary fraternity.
He was also a member of the Auburn marching band, and concert band, where he played first chair solo saxophone. He was also a member of the tennis team and gymnastics team. His favorite apparatus was the horizontal bar. He learned horizontal bar basics from his brother, Jarrell. He also learned "artistic writing" from his brother Jarrell and earned a portion of his college expenses by preparing "place cards" for weddings and other jobs requiring unique penmanship. After graduation he accepted a job with Westinghouse Electric Corporation in their student engineer program in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. He eventually accepted a permanent position as Manufacturing Engineer at their steam and gas, turbine division, near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. While in Pennsylvania, he pursued his lifelong ambition of learning to fly and became a pilot. He also went into the Army, and was stationed at Fort Knox, Kentucky, where he was a member of the Knox Aero Club Members of the club could fly club plans for cost of gas. While home on leave he met and eventually married the love of his life Ann Boozer Burdette. Together they became the proud parents of two boys, Tom and Garry.
Buddy progressed through various managerial positions with Westinghouse, and after 13 years accepted a position in Detroit, Michigan with Gorham Tool Company, a subsidiary of The Chrysler Corporation as plant manager of their start-up company, Gor-M-Dex Corporation. He eventually was named Vice President of Manufacturing. Later he became Vice President of Manufacturing for both companies. In the mid 70's he left Gorham and accepted a position with Burroughs Corporation (later Unisys Corporation) as Industrial Engineering Manager. He was promoted through various levels of management, and eventually retired in 2000 as a manager of their "S" Series product group.
After retiring he became a Realtor with Century 21. He was an avid tennis player and archer and loved the card game bridge. At the "urging" of his wife, Buddy learned the game of golf and he and Ann spent most of their free time on the golf course. As a family they became interested in archery, and every member of the family was at one time a state champion. Buddy in fact was State Bare Bow Archery Champion, three years in a row, and set a new state high score record in the process. He was the proud father of Daniel Thomas (Jacqueline) Burdette of Livonia and William Garrick (Marcia) Burdette of Traverse City. He was also the adoring grandfather of Jessica Burdette, Morgan Burdette, Jaclyn Burdette, Garrick Burdette, and great granddaughter Addison. Buddy is survived by two nieces Jerri Taylor and Linda Patterson. His sister, Elaine and brother, Jarrell preceded him in death. He will be in buried next to his beloved wife Ann at Riddle Cemetery in Howell Michigan.
Buddy's family will receive friends on Friday, March 24, 2023 from 3-7 PM at the Watkins Brothers Funeral Homes, MacDonald's Chapel located at 315 N. Michigan Avenue, Howell, Michigan. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, March 25, 2023, at the funeral home.
Please share a memory or leave a condolence with the family at watkinsfuneralhomes.com