William David Burdett

William David Burdett (“Dave”) passed away peacefully in his home on May 24, 2023.

Dave was born in Chicago, Illinois on July 17th, 1943, to William “Bill” Burdett and Charlene Kreml Burdett Wheeler. After a few years of college, Dave was commissioned as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy, where he served as a Naval Flight Officer. He flew the A-3 Skywarrior and served during the Vietnam War on two aircraft carriers: the U.S.S. Guadalcanal and Ticonderoga. Dave was extremely proud of his military career and often shared fond (and funny) memories of his time in the Navy. On January 1, 1969, while at his last duty station, Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, he met Kathleen Bowen and they fell in love. They were married in April 1969 after just four months of courtship. Dave completed his contract with the Navy and then continued to pursue his education while Kathy taught high school mathematics in Corpus Christi. He always said he left Chicago as soon as he could and made his way to Texas, where he became a “naturalized Texan—just like Davy Crockett.”

Dave graduated from Texas A&I Kingsville (now known as Texas A&M – Kingsville) with honors on the Dean’s List. Dave and Kathy then moved to Dallas so that he could attend Southern Methodist University’s Dedman School of Law. While attending SMU, he was named Editor-in-Chief for the Southwestern Law Journal, earned the prestigious Order of the Coif (an honor society for U.S. law students), and went on to graduate seventh in his class. Upon graduation and passing the bar exam, Dave became an attorney. He practiced law in Dallas for ten years, while Kathy continued to teach. Dave and Kathy mentored numerous students whom Kathy taught at school, and they became close friends and confidants within their community and church while volunteering in several organizations.

In 1982, Dave decided to follow his passion for the outdoors and shooting sports, and he purchased a retail sporting goods store in Hearne, TX. He was sure his then 4-year-old son, Barry, would want to be a part of the business, so he named the store Burdett & Son Sporting Goods. He promptly joined the Hearne Chamber of Commerce, eager to do his part and serve his new community. Dave continued practicing law part-time in Robertson and Brazos Counties for fifteen years. He often took on court-appointed cases and found fulfillment in helping those who were less fortunate. He never missed an opportunity to mentor his clients, in hopes of helping them to better their lives, and he expressed kindness and empathy to everyone with whom he worked. While he was a successful attorney who was well-liked and respected—both  in the courtroom and among his clients—Dave’s true professional passion was operating Burdett & Son alongside Kathy. Together, they built much more than a retail store in Burdett & Son. They were devoted to serving their community, encouraging participation in outdoor recreational activities, and bettering the lives of those around them. Dave’s employees spoke highly of him (and Kathy) as their employer, and they considered themselves to be the Burdetts’ extended family—and that is how they were treated. After forty years in business, Burdett & Son is still thriving at its present location across from Texas A&M on Texas Ave, and Dave has passed it on to the next generation: Barry, Sarah, Bailey, Corwyn, and Daphne.

One of Dave’s greatest passions was helping and mentoring others, especially youth. He very much enjoyed participating in Scouting with his son and grandsons. He earned the Silver Beaver Award from the Boy Scouts of America after serving as a scout leader for over 25 years, and was also a Wood Badge 4 Course Director, recognized for his part in this advanced leadership training. He served as a leader in the Sam Houston Area Council, participated on the district committee, and led countless scout trainings and events over the years. He taught hunter safety to over 1,000 young people in the state of Texas (most in Brazos County), earning him the prestigious Texas Parks and Wildlife Award. He also frequently taught Firearm Safety classes to children. Dave was an NRA Certified Instructor and an NRA Training Counselor, mentoring other instructors across Texas. He taught many self-defense and firearm safety classes and was one of the first License to Carry instructors in the Brazos Valley.  Dave also helped organize the first “Friends of the NRA” banquet for the Brazos Valley, which has subsequently become a robust community organization funding local 4-H programs, other community organizations, and local facilities.

Dave was also deeply patriotic and passionate about teaching history—especially Texas history, the American Revolution, and the Civil War.  He reenacted battles across the United States, and sincerely enjoyed getting dressed up in uniforms to teach others. Dave eagerly spoke at many local schools, Boy Scout packs and troops, Sons of the Confederate Veterans, and community events—and to anyone who wanted (or, in his eyes, needed) a history lesson.  He was a board member for the Brazos Valley Museum of Natural History, a member of the Sons of Union Veterans (he was a descendent of a Union Soldier), Sons of Confederate Veterans – Sull Ross Camp (who lovingly referred to this descendent of a Union Soldier as a “Friend of the Camp” or their “POW”), American Legion Post 159, an Admiral in The Texas Navy Association (an honorary title issued by the Texas Governor in recognition of a person’s noteworthy service to his/her fellow Texas residents), and a precinct chairman for the Brazos Valley Republican Party—where he also served on the Executive Committee.

Dave and Kathy have been active members of the congregation at First Presbyterian Church of Bryan for over 40 years. Dave was a deacon, an elder, and a volunteer on numerous committees at the church throughout the years. He also volunteered as a mentor at an after-school program hosted by the church for students from SFA Middle School.

After Dave was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, he became one of the first members of Rock Steady Boxing College Station—a nonprofit organization that gives people with Parkinson’s disease hope by improving their quality of life through a non-contact boxing-based fitness curriculum.  He became known for coordinating lunch gatherings after practice, and the group gave him the unofficial title of “social coordinator”, as they could always count on him to plan lunch events and help foster camaraderie.

Dave’s other hobbies included reading, gardening (he earned the Master Gardener designation after extensive horticulture training and volunteering in the Brazos Valley), playing the banjo (although he only knew one song from memory and would drive his family crazy playing it over and over again), leatherworking, hunting, shooting, reloading, camping, hiking, woodworking, gunsmithing, playing trivia and card games, keeping up with the latest and greatest electronics, and much more.  But his favorite pastime of all was simply being with his family.

Dave’s greatest accomplishments came as Dad, Grandpa, and Great-Grandpa. He is survived by his wife, Kathy, and his children Barry, Amanda, and Andrea.  He was also extremely proud of his children’s spouses, Sarah Burdett, Adam Hopper, and Ryan Ratcliffe.  He is survived by his grandchildren, Destine Mejia and her husband, Alex; Victoria, Thomas, and Jaxson Cruz; Daisy and Lily Hopper; Bailey, Corwyn, and Daphne Burdett; and Jeren David and Elliana Ratcliffe.  He is also survived by his great-grandson, Kooper Whitaker; his adopted granddaughter, Hayle Swanzy, and great-granddaughter, Hazel; his aunt, Lois Kreml Flaws; and half-brother, Scott Wheeler.  Finally, Dave’s family would like to express their sincere appreciation to his devoted and loving caregivers, Ashley, Dani, Nancy, and Josh.

Dave’s family will host a celebration of his life at 2:00 PM on June 17, 2023 at First Presbyterian Church of Bryan, TX.  The celebration can be viewed via livestream at that time, or any time after, at: https://www.youtube.com/@firstpresbyterianchurchofb5205/streams. If you plan to attend, please wear the uniform that reminds you most of Dave, or your favorite hat—Dave loved to dress up in uniforms and wear hats!

In lieu of flowers, donations in his honor may be made to Hospice Brazos Valley, First Presbyterian Church (for the Children’s Center for new playground equipment or for the church-sponsored Boy Scout Troop’s camp funds), or the Robert Conte Foundation for Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Inc. at. www.robertcontefoundation.org/dave.

Dave’s military awards include Naval Flight Officer (Navigator), Air Medal w/numeral “4”, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, N&MC Expert Pistol Marksmanship Medal, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross w/Palm, Republic of Vietnam Air Gallantry Cross with Silver Wings (equivalent to U.S. Air Medal), and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal w/1960-device. The highest rank he held was Lieutenant. The units he served in were: flight training at NAS Pensacola, FL; VT-29 at NAS Kingsville, TX; the USS Guadalcanal (LPH-7); NAS Whidbey Island, WA; VAH-4, VAH-123, USS Ticonderoga (CVA-14); and NAS Corpus Christi, TX.