DFW DL Pilot Crew Scheduler Glen Byron Burgess Jr

 

~ IN MEMORY ~

DFW DL Pilot Crew Scheduler

Glen Byron Burgess Jr.

March 14, 1930 - July 23, 2024

   

Glen Burgess Obituary

Southlake, Texas - Glen was a caring, giving, and hardworking individual who always put the needs of others ahead of his own. Born to Glen Byron Burgess and Edna Burgess in the rural area of unincorporated part of Tarrant County Percent 3, which is today Southlake. As the son of a sharecropper and one of seven siblings (six boys and one girl), the family lived in the Southlake, Grapevine, Colleyville area based on the land being farmed, be it renting a home from the landowner to staying in a barn on occasion. In recalling the hardships of working in the field, he'd speak of plowing to harvesting and note with dislike of picking cotton given how hard it was on their hands.

 

Glen attended school in one room school houses (when not otherwise needed in the field tending to a crop), mainly in Southlake, yet also in Roanoke, graduating from Grapevine High School in 1948 since Southlake was limited to grade school through 10th grade. In advance of being drafted, he enlisted in the Army (1950 to 1953), following which he attended Arlington Junior College, which is today UTA, and then The University of North Texas. While studying as an undergraduate, he began his profession in the airline industry. First with Pioneer Air Lines, followed by Continental Airlines, and then building a career at Delta Airlines (1959-1992). Starting at Love Field and then DFW when it opened and Delta relocated, working his way up from through various positions, spanning from the ramp, baggage handling, ticket agent, weight and balance, operations, to scheduling pilots.

 

As a cancer survivor for over 25 years he had a perpetual energy, zest for life, and buoyant spirit, yet since losing his eyesight six years ago it curtailed his actives, though he never complained nor was bitter. Outside of work, he was devoted to his family, friends, and enjoyed working around the house, in the yard, or caring for a small pasture with a few head of livestock. He'd tolerate having a horse from time to time at the request of his son, Norman although he viewed a horse as being less practical than livestock doing more damage than good, "tearing up" his pasture, which was influenced by his farming and sharecropper experiences growing up. His interests were birds, purple martins being his favorite, and fishing, yet since he put others and needs around the hose before him, he was more often content being in the yard around the house, or being a shade tree mechanic when something needed to be fixed.

 

Glen is remembered for building and achieving a successful future which started with less then nothing, his generosity, caring, joking, being a prankster at times, sarcastic or dry humor, speaking his mind, sharp memory, and with an affinity with remembering numbers which would frustrating some when playing games since he'd count the dominos or cards in his head and noting what someone likely has in their hand. He's survived by his wife of 60 years, Alice from Germany, who he met while being stationed at the Army base in her hometown of Worms, and son Norman.