Merwin Burr, 75, from Newtown to Texas, Earned Purple Heart

Merwin Brinsmaid Burr, Sr., age 75 of Dale, TX, went home to Heaven on March 10, 2013 after a long struggle with Pulmonary Fibrosis. He was born on June 29, 1937 in Monroe, Connecticut to Merwin S. and Mabel (Smith) Burr. Known as “Junior” to his older brothers and sisters, Merwin attended Newtown High School until enlisting in the United States Marine Corps in 1955. He was honorably discharged in 1967 as a Staff Sergeant, having earned the Purple Heart during one of his tours in Vietnam. After returning to Connecticut to raise his family, he worked as a prison guard, truck driver, and volunteer fire fighter.

Merwin married Gladys on January 15, 1983 and they relocated to Tampa, Florida in 1990, where he kept busy as a car detailer, racecar enthusiast, and security guard. After Gladys passed away in 2004, he retired to Texas and moved in next door to his eldest daughter. He enjoyed bird watching from his kitchen window (he named each of the hummingbirds, cardinals and woodpeckers), baking peanut butter flavored desserts, and socializing with friends from church. Merwin loved watching NASCAR races, bragged about his grandchildren to anyone who would listen and shared his home with his buddy, Ziggy the cat. His good advice and listening ear was never more than a phone call away. Merwin lived out his personal motto “Live, Laugh, Love” every day as a beloved father, grandfather, friend, and neighbor.

Merwin is survived by his children, Debra Burr DiFronzo of Dale, TX; Tammy Burr of Brookfield, CT; Kelly Burr Giglio (Bob) of Columbus, OH; Merwin “Chip” Burr, Jr. (Tracy) of Warren, CT; Diane Bawlick Amuso (Joe) of Stafford, CT; and Susan Bawlick Pagan (Ivan) of Brookfield, CT; twelve grandchildren, Heather Giglio, Elizabeth DiFronzo, Jason Waldron, Rocco DiFronzo Jr., Robert Giglio III, Amy Cooper, Ashley Burr, Brandon Burr, Molly Burr, Rachel Williams, Daniel Burr and Caleb Burr; and two great-grandchildren, Katrina and Carson. He is also survived by four siblings, Dorothy Boland of Seymour, CT ; John Burr (Wilma) of Boston, MA; Nancy Redente of Winterhaven, FL; and Ruamy Burr of Newtown, CT. He was predeceased by his wife, Gladys; parents, Merwin S. and Mabel; and brother, Howard.

Services will be held at 10am on Saturday, March 23rd at Bateman Baptist Church, 2691 FM 20, Red Rock, TX, 78662, with burial immediately following at Bateman Cemetery. A memorial service is planned for late June in Connecticut. The family would like to extend their gratitude to the doctors and staff of Seton Edgar B. Davis Hospital in Luling, TX for their attentiveness and loving care. Contributions in his memory may be made to the American Lung Association, 1301 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Suite 800. Washington, DC 20004 or online atAmericanLungAssociation.org.

Arrangements by McCurdy Funeral Home, 105 E. Pecan, Lockhart, TX 78644, 512-398-4791. Guestbook online atwww.mccurdyfuneralhome.com

Obituary courtesy of McCurdy Funeral Home in Lockhart, TX.