William L. "Bill" Britton, Jr.

William L. “Bill” Britton

Mr. William L. Britton, Jr., age 86, entered into rest on April 10, 2009 at his residence. A memorial service will be held Wednesday, April 15, 2009 at 4:00 p.m. at Aldersgate United Methodist Church. The Rev. C.W. Edwards, a life long friend, and the Rev. John Pinson will officiate. The family will receive friends at the church beginning at 3:00 p.m. Internment will be private.
He is preceded in death by his beloved wife of 64 years, Dorothy Greene Britton. He is survived by one son William L. Britton III (Nora), two daughters Bonnie Britton Zier (Kelly) and Mary Elizabeth Britton Schaber (John), seven grandchildren: William Christian Britton, Joel Britton, Sarah Britton, Jennifer Zier, Britton Zier, Patrick Zier, and Chad Schaber, one great grandchild Britteny Britton, one sister, Marilyn Towill.
He dearly loved his family and enjoyed every occasion when the family would get together. He often said you can have the best time at a family get together or at a cook out in the back yard.
Mr. Britton was a life long resident of Augusta and was a graduate of the Academy of Richmond County and later attended Augusta Junior College.
For over forty three years he was employed with Augusta Roofing and Metal Works, Inc. as Chief Estimator, Vice-President and President. He served, since 1954, over 59 years as Secretary-Treasurer of the Roofing and Sheet Metal Contractors Association of Augusta. He was a past president of the Roofing and Sheet Metal Contractors Association of Georgia.
In 1987 he received the Boone Noblett award for many years of dedicated service to the Georgia Association. He served several years as a Director on the Board of the National Roofing Association.
Mr. Britton was a member of Aldersgate United Methodist Church and a past President of the Henry Bible Class at St. John United Methodist Church.
Since 1947 he has been a member of Social Lodge #1 Free and Accepted Masons and was a Past Master of the Lodge. He received the J.P. McMichael, Jr. Award for distinguished Masonic Service in 2004. He was a 32 degree KCCH Scottish Rite Mason and had served as treasurer of the Scottish Rite Guard from 1975-2009.
.Mr. Britton had a long association with the Georgia Army National Guard having enlisted as a Private in 1939 in Augusta’s own A Battery 214th Coast Artillery Regiment (AA). In 1940 the regiment was called into active federal service. In 1943, he graduated from Officers Candidate School and later served in the Asiatic Pacific Theater of operations as an infantry officer. After Japan surrendered, he was given command of an Allied Prisoners of War Recovery Team. Later on the island of Kyushu, Japan, his team was part of the operation that liberated several thousand Americans and Allied POWs. Many times he has stated that this was one of the most rewarding experiences of his life.
In August of 1950, his unit, the 250th AAA Gun Battalion Gang was called into active federal service and served twenty-one months during the Korean Conflict.
During the initial phase of the 1970 riots in Augusta, he, as the senior local National Guard Commander, was ordered by Gov. Maddox to activate his unit the 878th Engineer Battalion and to establish order. Lt. Colonel Britton was later decorated by the State of Georgia with the award of the Distinctive Service Medal for his services and the accomplishments of his battalion in restoring law and order in the riot areas.
He was a life member of the National Guard Association of Georgia and a member of the Military Officers Association of America.
Memorials may be made to CSRA Humane Society, P.O. Box 14667, Augusta, GA 30910 or Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 3185 Wheeler Rd, Augusta, GA 30909
Thomas Poteet & Son Funeral Directors, 214 Davis Rd, Augusta, GA 30907
(706) 36408484. A guestbook may be signed on our website www.thomaspoteet.com .