Burton Jr. R. Lee Burton Jr.

CAMBRIDGE - R. Lee Burton Jr., 88, passed away at his home on Sunday, March 18, 2007.

He was born in Cambridge on May 5, 1918, and was the eldest son of the late R. Lee and Lula Mumford Burton Sr.

Upon graduation from Cambridge High School in 1935, he attended Salisbury State Teachers College, where he received a bachelor of science in education in 1939. Later he attended graduate school at the University of Delaware receiving an master's degree in education in 1956. Earlier he completed special courses related to his work in vocational rehabilitation at Rush Institute of Physical Medicine and Duke University.

His career started as a teacher in Talbot County for three years, which was followed by four years of military from 1942-46. In combat he was a line infantry officer in the 95th Division. In 1944 he was wounded in Germany. He was awarded the Purple Heart, Combat Infantry Badge and the European Theater of Operations Campaign with six battle stars. In 1950 he was recalled to active duty, served a year in Japan as an education officer in the Japan Logistical Command and held the rank of captain.

Primarily he was employed by the state Department of Education as a rehabilitation counselor for the lower counties of the Eastern Shore until 1956, when he was assigned as administrator for the Disability Determination Program, which adjudicated Social Security disability claims in Baltimore. A heart attack at his desk led to retirement in 1973 upon eligibility.

Along the way he was inducted into the Salisbury University Athletic Hall of Fame. In pursuit of his hobby of collecting local history material, his book "Canneries of the Eastern Shore" was published by Tidewater Publishing. He also wrote articles for the Journal of the Maryland Token and Medal Society of which he was a member. He was also a member of Dorchester Post 91 American Legion. Survivors include a brother, George C. Burton and wife, Peggy of Cambridge and several nieces and nephews and a surrogate daughter, Diane W. Dykes of Hebron, who took care of his needs during several periods of incapacity.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Mary Lou Vickers and Jean Thomas; two brothers, J. Marvin Burton and Donald M. Burton

A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at Dorchester Memorial Park with the Rev. Kevin E. English officiating. The family will receive friends at the Thomas Funeral Home, P.A. from noon until 1 p.m. on Thursday.