1926
Owen
2015
Owen Britton
September 25, 1926 — August 24, 2015
Owen Robert Britton 88 of Battle Creek, died Monday August 24, 2015 at his home. He was born on September 25, 1926 in Lansing, Michigan, to Cecil M. and Anne E. (Kifer) Britton.
At an early age he came to Battle Creek with his parents to live on the old Lakewood Dairy Farm on Territorial Rd. until moving to Athens in 1930. He returned to Battle Creek in 1935 to live with his grandparents on the old Battle Creek Sanitarium Poultry Farm on West Goguac St. He attended the Prairieview Elementary School, which was at that time the old Lakeview High School on Highland Avenue until moving to Climax, Michigan, graduating from Climax High School in 1945.
Following graduation he entered the Army and took his basic training at Camp Joseph T. Roberson in Arkansas. After basic training he was assigned to the 281st Military Police Co., Corp. of Military Police in Rome Allied Command of Italy. He served in the Rome until he was Honorably Discharged in 1947. In 1948 he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force Reserve, being called to active duty in early 1950. He served state side until being released from Active Duty in 1951.
He met the love of his life, Patricia E. Newton in 1947 and they were married June 19, 1949. They then moved to Battle Creek where they resided until their deaths.
Owen was employed by Michigan Carton Co., the St. Regis Co., the Champion International Paper Co. and the Waldorf Co., from which he retired in 1988 after 41 years in paper manufacturing.
He was an adult leader for many years with the Boy Scouts of America in Battle Creek, serving Cubmaster of Pack 19 Nottawa Trails District / 319 Southwest Michigan Council of Verona School. Additionally he served as a Scoutmaster for 9 years of troop 19/319, was a Round-Table Commissioner, Pack and Troop Committee Chairman, Institutional Representatives, and adult leader of the Philmont Expedition in 1967. Owen was proud to have been a Vigil Member of the B.S.A. Order of the Arrow and received a number of awards, including the 25 year membership award and the B.S.A.’s highest honor, the Silver Beaver award in 1975. He was also active in the Camp Fire Girls Program for several years, serving as an Assistant Group leader, chairman of the board of directors of the Dowling area Camp Kitanniwa, and 1st vice-chairman of the Board of Directors of the old Kitanniwa Council. For this service he received several honors, including the Sebago Award from the local council and the Luther Halsey Gulick award from the National Campfire Council in 1984.
In 1987 Owen and his wife, Patricia, became active with the Native Americans of Southwest Michigan. During the ensuing years they came to follow the Pow Wow Trail and were active with events of “The People”, who came to accept them as “brother and sister” in the Native American culture. In time they became known as “The Elders”and in 1998, Owen was awarded the greatest, most honored and revered Eagle feather – the mark of a Native Warrior. It would be the first of 3 Eagle feathers he would achieve over the years. In 2000 both Owen and his wife became Citizens of the Métis Nation of Michigan (Métis meaning “mixed blood”). In 2002 they were appointed to the State Council of the Métis Nation of Michigan to establish the position of Senior State Elder and Senior State Elder Mother. Owen and Patricia found great personal satisfaction and spiritual uplifting dancing with their Native American brothers and sisters within the Sacred Circle. He enjoyed creating the hand-made accessories which were worn and used in their Regalia, including all of his own bead work.
Owen was also an avid bowler in his younger years, participating on a number of Battle Creek area league teams. He was also an ardent fisherman, he loved to travel, and enjoyed photography of wild-life and the out-of-doors, as well as boating and canoeing. Additionally, Owen was a writer and poet who had several pieces published in anthologies and poetry.com ., and in 2012 his poetry book, Whispers’ and Drums was published.
Owen is survived by daughters Diana Tomlinson (Bob Sellers) of Battle Creek, Lora (Patrick) Waffle of Colon, MI.; son, Ralph (Michelle) Britton of Eckford, MI.; daughter-in-law Tracy Britton of Flippin, AR.; half sisters Diana L. Glispy of Orlando, FL and Bonnie (Gerald) Lagassee of Hickory, NC; half brother Bill (Marilyn)Pierce of Mesa, AZ. ; Grandchildren: Dan (Angela) Britton, Hope Mills, NC.; Mat Britton (Fiona Lajoie) of Battle Creek; Bree Tomlinson and Ty Tomlinson of Charleston, SC.; Mitchell (Shelby) Britton of Kalamazoo; Seth Britton of East Lansing; Jacob Britton of Portage, IN.; Madison and Mallory Burke, Eckford, MI.; Great-Grandchildren: Elijah, Jayden, Jillian Britton of Hope Mills, NC; Brooke Tomlinson of Charleston, SC.; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Owen is preceded in death by his wife, Patricia (Newton) Britton; two sons, Walter R. Britton and Mark L. Britton.
The family will receive friends at Richard A Henry Funeral Home Thursday, September 3, 2015 from 2:00-4:00pm and 6:00-8:00pm. Funeral services will be held at 11:00am Friday, September 4, 2015 at the funeral home. Internment will follow at Floral Lawn Memorial Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Humane Society of South Central Michigan, 2500 Watkins Rd., Battle Creek, MI 49015; the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi, Summer Youth Camp, Pine Creek Reservation Southern Administration Office, 1485 Mno Bmadzewen Way, Fulton, MI 49052 or the Boy Scouts of America, 3213 Walker Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49544.
www.henryfuneralhome.org
At an early age he came to Battle Creek with his parents to live on the old Lakewood Dairy Farm on Territorial Rd. until moving to Athens in 1930. He returned to Battle Creek in 1935 to live with his grandparents on the old Battle Creek Sanitarium Poultry Farm on West Goguac St. He attended the Prairieview Elementary School, which was at that time the old Lakeview High School on Highland Avenue until moving to Climax, Michigan, graduating from Climax High School in 1945.
Following graduation he entered the Army and took his basic training at Camp Joseph T. Roberson in Arkansas. After basic training he was assigned to the 281st Military Police Co., Corp. of Military Police in Rome Allied Command of Italy. He served in the Rome until he was Honorably Discharged in 1947. In 1948 he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force Reserve, being called to active duty in early 1950. He served state side until being released from Active Duty in 1951.
He met the love of his life, Patricia E. Newton in 1947 and they were married June 19, 1949. They then moved to Battle Creek where they resided until their deaths.
Owen was employed by Michigan Carton Co., the St. Regis Co., the Champion International Paper Co. and the Waldorf Co., from which he retired in 1988 after 41 years in paper manufacturing.
He was an adult leader for many years with the Boy Scouts of America in Battle Creek, serving Cubmaster of Pack 19 Nottawa Trails District / 319 Southwest Michigan Council of Verona School. Additionally he served as a Scoutmaster for 9 years of troop 19/319, was a Round-Table Commissioner, Pack and Troop Committee Chairman, Institutional Representatives, and adult leader of the Philmont Expedition in 1967. Owen was proud to have been a Vigil Member of the B.S.A. Order of the Arrow and received a number of awards, including the 25 year membership award and the B.S.A.’s highest honor, the Silver Beaver award in 1975. He was also active in the Camp Fire Girls Program for several years, serving as an Assistant Group leader, chairman of the board of directors of the Dowling area Camp Kitanniwa, and 1st vice-chairman of the Board of Directors of the old Kitanniwa Council. For this service he received several honors, including the Sebago Award from the local council and the Luther Halsey Gulick award from the National Campfire Council in 1984.
In 1987 Owen and his wife, Patricia, became active with the Native Americans of Southwest Michigan. During the ensuing years they came to follow the Pow Wow Trail and were active with events of “The People”, who came to accept them as “brother and sister” in the Native American culture. In time they became known as “The Elders”and in 1998, Owen was awarded the greatest, most honored and revered Eagle feather – the mark of a Native Warrior. It would be the first of 3 Eagle feathers he would achieve over the years. In 2000 both Owen and his wife became Citizens of the Métis Nation of Michigan (Métis meaning “mixed blood”). In 2002 they were appointed to the State Council of the Métis Nation of Michigan to establish the position of Senior State Elder and Senior State Elder Mother. Owen and Patricia found great personal satisfaction and spiritual uplifting dancing with their Native American brothers and sisters within the Sacred Circle. He enjoyed creating the hand-made accessories which were worn and used in their Regalia, including all of his own bead work.
Owen was also an avid bowler in his younger years, participating on a number of Battle Creek area league teams. He was also an ardent fisherman, he loved to travel, and enjoyed photography of wild-life and the out-of-doors, as well as boating and canoeing. Additionally, Owen was a writer and poet who had several pieces published in anthologies and poetry.com ., and in 2012 his poetry book, Whispers’ and Drums was published.
Owen is survived by daughters Diana Tomlinson (Bob Sellers) of Battle Creek, Lora (Patrick) Waffle of Colon, MI.; son, Ralph (Michelle) Britton of Eckford, MI.; daughter-in-law Tracy Britton of Flippin, AR.; half sisters Diana L. Glispy of Orlando, FL and Bonnie (Gerald) Lagassee of Hickory, NC; half brother Bill (Marilyn)Pierce of Mesa, AZ. ; Grandchildren: Dan (Angela) Britton, Hope Mills, NC.; Mat Britton (Fiona Lajoie) of Battle Creek; Bree Tomlinson and Ty Tomlinson of Charleston, SC.; Mitchell (Shelby) Britton of Kalamazoo; Seth Britton of East Lansing; Jacob Britton of Portage, IN.; Madison and Mallory Burke, Eckford, MI.; Great-Grandchildren: Elijah, Jayden, Jillian Britton of Hope Mills, NC; Brooke Tomlinson of Charleston, SC.; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Owen is preceded in death by his wife, Patricia (Newton) Britton; two sons, Walter R. Britton and Mark L. Britton.
The family will receive friends at Richard A Henry Funeral Home Thursday, September 3, 2015 from 2:00-4:00pm and 6:00-8:00pm. Funeral services will be held at 11:00am Friday, September 4, 2015 at the funeral home. Internment will follow at Floral Lawn Memorial Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Humane Society of South Central Michigan, 2500 Watkins Rd., Battle Creek, MI 49015; the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi, Summer Youth Camp, Pine Creek Reservation Southern Administration Office, 1485 Mno Bmadzewen Way, Fulton, MI 49052 or the Boy Scouts of America, 3213 Walker Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49544.
www.henryfuneralhome.org
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