Mr. Billy Burke Newton

Sorrells Funeral Home of Slocomb

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Posted by: Sorrells Funeral Home
www.sorrellsfuneralhomes.com
334-886-7777
Date: May 18 2013 11:54 AM

Sorrells Funeral Home

PO Box 159

Slocomb, AL 36375

(334) 886-7777 

Obituary:  Mr. Billy Burke Newton 

Mr. Billy Burke Newton returned to his Heavenly home Friday, May 17, 2013 at his home surrounded by his loving family.  He was 87. 

The service to celebrate his life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, May 20, in the Sorrells Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Larry Newton officiating.  Burial will follow in the Slocomb City Cemetery with Sorrells Funeral Home of Slocomb directing.  

The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Monday from 10:00 a.m. and will continue until service time. 

In lieu of flowers you may honor Billy with kind thoughts and prayers for his family. 

Billy was born on June 18, 1925 at the home of his grandfather, Mr. James J. Kelley Sr. in the Fadette Community of Geneva County, to the late Bryant Austin Newton, Sr. and Ettie Kelley Newton.   He attended The University of Alabama.  He married his childhood sweetheart, Votie Mae Holloway before enlisting in the U.S. Marines where he served honorably during WWII.  He then returned to Geneva County to farm with his grandfather and mentor, Mr. J.J. Kelley. In November 1950 he began his career as a civilian with the Department of the Army at Camp Rucker.  His first job was as a hospital attendant and 31 years later he retired as the Procurement Officer in charge of contracts.   He left Fort Rucker for a work assignment in Tokyo, Japan at Chofu Hydroponic Farm from 1957-1961 and he then took another assignment in Yongsan, South Korea where he was advisor to the South Korean Army in establishing military hospitals.  His last overseas assignment from 1972-1974, in Bangkok, Thailand, was with governmental contracts.  After retiring from Fort Rucker he became a consultant for private companies seeking contracts with the U.S. Government.  He worked with the following companies for the next nine years: Northrup, Sikorsky, Boeing and DynCorp.  In 1990, Fort Rucker celebrated 40 years of his dedicated service to Army Aviation and he became a charter member of the Army Aviation Museum. 

He was a faithful servant of Christ and member of the First United Methodist Church of Slocomb for 74 years.  He served many roles including “official dishwasher” for church dinners and he loved sharing his knowledge of the Bible with his Sunday school class.  More importantly, he tried every day to be an example of Christ’s love and kindness.  He was member for over 60 years of the Metcalf Masonic Lodge in Slocomb.  In addition, he was a member of the Gideon Society and a past member of the Dothan Houston County Rotary Club. 

In addition to his parents, his beloved wife of 65 years, Votie Mae Holloway Newton; his daughter, Wanda Mae Newton; sons: Rodney Terry and Glenn Paul Newton; brother, Bryant Austin Newton, Jr.; granddaughter, Mollie Eileen Newton; and son-in-law, Gary D. Johnson all preceded him in death. 

Survivors include a daughter, Tina Johnson, Dothan; son and daughter-in-law:  Michael and Katherine Newton, Birmingham; grandchildren:  Reuben N. Poole and wife, Monica, Dothan, Sherron Bristow and husband, Daniel,  Dothan, Elizabeth Warfield and husband, Alan, Birmingham, Katie Warren and husband Tom, Birmingham; great grandsons:  Ben and Matt Warfield, Birmingham, Rueben Burke “Brodie” Poole, Dothan and Segrest Gil Bristow, Dothan; sisters: Patty Gilmore, Dothan and Martha Schuler and husband Charles, Elkton, VA; brother, Rev. Larry Newton and wife Betsy, Slocomb; sister-in-law, Sue Newton, Slocomb; several nieces and nephews and other extended family and friends. 

Serving as pall bearers will be: Daniel Bristow, Kim Hughes, John Keith Hughes, Paul Newton, Andrew Newton and John Webber 

The family would like to thank Dr. Russell Bedsole, his nurses: Candice and Kim, Dr. Roland Brooks and Dr. Mark Byard for their excellent care. Gratitude is given to Gentiva Home Health and Gentiva Hospice and special nurses: Ms. Mollie and Katie.  A part of our Heart has left us but we will be reunited and made whole in heaven. 

To sign a guest register, please visit www.sorrellsfuneralhomes.com

 

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