James A Burton
Irvin and I had extensive telephone and email conversations in the past year. He was very lonely. So first and foremost, I would like to thank Donna Barnard, his niece, and her daughter, and Irvin’s friends who helped him with his doctor and medical appointments and took care of his daily needs. It is much appreciated.
Irvin and I first met when we were 15 and 16 years old in the mid-‘60s. We immediately clicked as friends and our friendship has lasted until this last week when he passed. He was my best buddy, my co-conspirator in mischief. We cruised Buckner Boulevard in Pleasant Grove and Loop 12 and Beltline Road on Friday nights, smoking rum-soaked Crooks cigars. We were free, having a blast.
My most memorable time was going on vacation with the Boyds and with Tina the dog to the Black Hills in South Dakota, to Wyoming, Montana, and meeting up with his brother Ralph and family in Yellowstone National Park. There were a lot of bear problems in the park then. Some came into our camping area one day and caused a ruckus. After dark, Irvin and I needed to visit the outhouse. While we were in there, we heard a whole lot of racket and just knew the bears were back. We waited 20 minutes or more, not knowing if it was safe to go outside. Finally I peeked out the door and decided that the bear problem couldn’t be worse than the smell problem in the outhouse. We sneaked around the corner of the building and discovered that the racket was coming from a close camp where a lady was washing up the dinner dishes in a big metal pan. We felt stupid, but we had a good laugh.
In 1971 Jan and I married. Irvin was my Best Man, and our friendship lasted but our contact became long distance as life moved us westward to the West Coast. Occasionally we saw each other and talked by phone (for hours). We visited him and Barbara when we went to Texas to visit Jan’s family, and they came to California to see us. It meant a lot to me when they attended my sister’s funeral in Arlington in 2000.
During our middle-aged years, Irvin and I both had health problems. Mine was bad; his was worse. We were in frequent contact with each other, over the last three years especially. It was good to renew times about Oak Cliff and Pleasant Grove days. We discussed health, but I never got the sense that he was as sick as he was until last week. I wish I could have been with him to stand by him instead of being 1,000 miles away. I am so glad Irvin was my friend, my buddy and my Best Man. He missed our 50th wedding anniversary by two months.
Be at peace, my friend. You are in Heaven with your Lord and no longer in pain. We’ll see you there, too, someday. Condolences to your family and friends left behind. Jan and I love you, Irv, and will miss you.
James and Jan Burton
Grand Junction, Colorado