Dr. Thomas Allan Burton

Dr. Thomas (Tom) Allan Burton of Athens, Georgia, died peacefully in his sleep on Thursday, August 8, 2024. He was 88 years old. 

Tom was born on September 4, 1935, in Louisville, KY to Allan Parr and Virginia (Needy) Burton. He grew up in Louisville and graduated from Male High School in 1953. Following graduation from Eastern Kentucky University in 1957, Tom joined the United States Army. After a three-year stint that included an overseas station in Germany, he returned to the world of academia and higher education, where he would spend his entire professional career. Tom received a master’s degree from Indiana University in 1962, and later earned his Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) from the University of Kentucky in 1967. 

At this point fate turned, and Tom accepted a position at the University of Georgia, College of Education in Athens, Georgia. He spent the next 20 plus years teaching and publishing. In addition to numerous articles and papers, in 1976 he published the book, “The Trainable Mentally Retarded,” and through the years testified as a courtroom expert on mental retardation issues. At UGA Tom served as graduate advisor and as Department Head for Special Education. He retired as Professor Emeritus of Special Education from the University of Georgia in 1988.

Tom was a member of Zeta Beat Tau Fraternity (Mu Chapter) and served as faculty advisor at the University of Kentucky and Chapter Advisor at the University of Georgia.

Following his retirement, Tom spent some of his time traveling the globe, but nothing eclipsed his first travel love, Germany. Tom took countless trips to Germany over the years. Fluent in German, Tom “tortured” his children around Christmas time, speaking in German to conceal the identity and contents of impending Christmas bounty.

Tom’s career and life in academia belied his hidden talents with his hands. He was an artist at heart extending back to his undergraduate studies. He could also build or repair just about anything. Tom’s artistic legacy was perhaps the family farm on Belmont Road in southeast Clarke Co. A massive fixer upper long before the term became vogue, Tom spent decades renovating, remodeling, and building on the farm. Miles of wood fence were hand built, barns were raised, and a house reduced to studs’ room by room, only to be returned to great aesthetic.

Tom was an avid reader, a World War II historian, an art enthusiast, a lover of music from Bluegrass to Classical, and even picked a little banjo in his younger years. In his prime he was not afraid of a good Scotch. Or few. Despite his dedication and allegiance to the University of Georgia, he remained a lifelong University of Kentucky basketball fan.

Tom also had a weakness for animals, notably dogs, and particularly basset hounds. The first dog, a basset named Mandy, accompanied him and his family from Kentucky to Athens. Later, the farm would become a true hotel for dogs (and cats, and horses, and a few random cows), with a litany and constant abundance of basset hounds and other wayward or homeless dogs populating the homestead.

Over the years Tom was active with Emmanuel Episcopal Church, where he served as a long-time children’s Sunday School teacher, as well as St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church. 

He was predeceased in death by his parents, two brothers, older brother Robert, and younger brother John (Jack), and by his former wife, Susanne F. Burton. He is survived by his two children, Rebecca Burton and Jon Burton (Beth) and one grandchild, Parr Elizabeth, and his former second wife, Joanne Snyder. He requested that no service be held – “Das ist alles. Auf Wiedersehen!” Instead, memorials may be made to Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Athens, GA or to your local pet adoption agency.

Lord & Stephens Funeral Homes, East, Athens, GA is assisting the family with the arrangements. www.lordandstephens.com