William Angell Burton

William Angell "Bill" Burton, of Providence, Rhode Island, entered heaven March 11, 2026, just shy of his 98th year of life. Born and raised in Providence, Rhode Island, by Raymond Holbrook and Beryl Joslin, he was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. Bill's passion for leading an active life fueled his personal participation in tennis and motivated his children to seek athletic achievement at recreational, high school, collegiate, and elite levels throughout their lives.

Stationed in Europe during the Korean War, he served as a Meteorology Technician for the U.S. Army 43rd Infantry. The GI Bill benefits and personal love for science and tech enabled him to earn a degree in textile manufacturing at the Rhode Island School of Design. On graduation in 1954 he married his only wife, Elizabeth "Betty" Issacs, of Providence, Rhode Island.

Chemstrand Corporation offered him his first job. He relocated to Decatur, Alabama, to join a team charged to convert synthetic polymers into fibers that could be woven into fabrics. Their work revolutionized the clothing, household fabrics, and automotive tire industries. The team developments included "ChemGrass," which was later rebranded as "AstroTurf" when installed as the sporting floor in the Houston Astrodome. Continued advancement led Bill to accept a Management position with Allied Chemical in 1965. He moved his family to the Chester community and lived in the same home until he passed.

Throughout his life and after his retirement, Bill was the pool director and at times the funding director for the Chester Recreation Association and was also the established and administrated MISS Softball America Chesterfield League, and later the Chesterfield County softball leagues. In 1994 Bill and Betty were both active in community service, serving decades as volunteers for Chesterfield Colonial Heights Alliance for Social Ministry (CCHASM), and Crater Community Hospice, Petersburg Chapter.

Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Betty (2012); and his son, Jeffrey (2009); his sister, Barbara Donovan (2016) and her spouse, Pierce Donovan (1993), their son, Michael (2017); and a brother and sister-in-law, Ernie and Nancy Ward, of Montpelier, Vermont (2018 and 2021, respectively). Bill is survived by his son, Stephen Angell Burton and his wife, Cindy; son, William Keith Burton and his wife, Kelly; daughter, Lyn Burton Wright and husband, Robert; seven grandchildren, Jessie, Josh, Alex, Catherine, Christopher, Paul, and Elizabeth; two great-grandchildren, Bruce and Jane; along with his beloved cousins, Karen Donovan (Walker Rumble), Beth Donovan and son, Myles Levy (Sondra) and their son Jonah Levy, Martha Donovan Soares (Paul) and their children, Travis, Julia, and Alex Soares.

The family will receive friends on Saturday, March 28, 2026, from 10am until 11am, at the Chester Chapel of J.T. Morriss & Son Funeral Home. A funeral service will be starting at 11am, with interment to follow at Sunset Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, we encourage donations to Crater Community Hospice of Petersburg, 3916 South Crater Road, Petersburg, Virginia 23805. 804-526-4300.