BURTON SCHILLING OBITUARY Memorial services were held in Aiken, South Carolina for Burton L. Schilling on July 5th, 2007, the 33rd anniversary of his marriage to his loving wife Helena. They had recently relocated to Aiken from their home in The Woodlands, Texas. He was born into the Jewish faith in Brooklyn, New York on November 26, 1921. Later in life he and Helena chose to affiliate with The Unitarian Universalist Church. He graduated from Rutgers University and spent much of his career working on Wall Street. Mr. Schilling served in the Army Air Corps during World War Two completing 35 missions as a navigator on a B-24 based in Bari, Italy. He also served as a director of the Woodlands Water Board. He is survived by his beloved wife Helena Rosen Schilling. He leaves behind two children, Peter Schilling of Lexington, Kentucky and Carroll Schilling of Westport, Connecticut with her husband Ahmed Namury, as well as stepchildren Michael Zatzkin with his wife Carol of Montgomery, Texas and Sydney Bozeman with her husband Don of Aiken, South Carolina. He is also survived by four grandchildren: 23 year old Jessica, 22 year old Laura, 21 year old Janelle and 18 year old Casey as well as four step grandchildren and one step great grandchild. Donations may be made in Mr. Schilling's name to the American Cancer Society. REMARKS FOR BURT SCHILLING'S FUNERAL We are gathered here today to honor the memory of Burton Schilling who passed away on Tuesday July 3rd. Burt was born into the Jewish faith on November 26, 1921. Later in life he and his wife Helena chose to affiliate with the Unitarian-Universalist fellowship. Therefore today ceremony attempts to honor both those traditions. Burt grew up and attended public schools in New York. He displayed early skills in baseball and was nicknamed "Satchem", maybe an allusion to his contemporary, the inimitable Satchel Paige. In any case his promising baseball career was cut short by an injury. When Burt graduated from high school he enrolled at Rutgers University to pursue a degree in accounting. After two years Uncle Sam came'a calling and Burt was off to the army. He began his military service November 23, 1942 and was discharged on October 6, 1945. A lot transpired in those three years. Burt was a navigator on a B-24 flying bombing runs over Europe from his base in Bari, Italy. He tells the story that on one mission they had armed their bomb load but were unable to drop them on the assigned target. His bombardier radioed up to the pilot that they were headed back with a load of live bombs that would probably explode on landing. They decided to ditch the load on the return trip. Burt says from his charts he thinks they bombed Switzerland. On one especially perilous mission the anti-aircraft fire was so close and so loud that Burt's hearing was permanently impaired. This haunted him all his life and affected not only his hearing but his equilibrium. He formed close attachments to the other ten crew members that last to this day. With Burt's passing only one of that crew remains. Burt completed his thirty-five missions and was awaiting transportation back to the states at a base in Naples, Italy. He was watching a high stakes poker game. He had played a little poker earlier and realized he wasn't very good at it. He and I have that in common. He resisted the urge to join in until the guy he was standing behind tapped out. When he got up he invited Burt to sit in. Ignoring his earlier experiences he did, and wound up losing his entire $2000 dollar nest egg. When they got back to the states he had to borrow 50 cents from his bombardier Malcolm Hardesty to call home. It's a good thing he didn't know Helena then. He might have been too scared to come back. Burt seldom discussed wartime experiences and didn't want anyone to think he did anything special. To me and all those he helped free from the terrors of Nazism and Fascism he was a hero. All those ordinary guys who did extra-ordinary things in the face of mortal danger in the defense of their country were heroes and we should make sure that no one ever forgets. Burt finished his degree and settled into a career on Wall Street at E F Hutton. A few years later Peter came along and then Carroll, both who went on to careers in the medical field, Peter as a psychologist and Carroll as a nurse and medical entrepreneur. Peter blessed him with two granddaughters, Laura and Janelle. Not to be outdone, Carroll added Jessica and Casey. In 1974 Burt met and married Helena Rosen and moved to New Jersey, while still working at E F Hutton. In 1984, following Burt's retirement, they moved to The Woodlands near Houston, Texas to be near her son Michael. There they quickly became immersed in the social life of the Woodlands forming many lasting friendships and enjoying bridge and travel. Burt was a stubborn and independent person. He didn't want anyone fussing over him. The first time I met him was in 1988 when Sydney and I got married in Alexandria, Virginia. We picked Burt and Helena up at the airport and drove them to our townhouse. When we pulled up to the curb I offered to help Burt with his suitcases and he would have none of that. So, I took Helena's small duffle and followed Burt up the steps. About halfway up Burt paused, one heavy case in each hand, and proceeded to tilt backwards at a steep angle. I was able to catch him and prevent his falling. When we got inside he was adamant that he would have been okay. For the sake of his pride I agreed with him. Burt also had a wry sense of humor; sometimes intentional and sometimes not. Sydney and I were once having dinner with Burt and Helena in a Mexican restaurant. After the requisite round of margaritas and perusal of the menu, Burt decided he needed to visit the men's room. While he was gone Helena remarked that she didn't know why Burt was reading the menu because he always ordered Fajitas. Well, when Burt returned he resumed his menu reading to the consternation of our waiter who came by several times to see if we were ready to order. Finally with a flourish Burt folded the menu and signaled the waiter. "Yessir he said a little sarcastically, what'll you have?" Burt looked up at him innocently and said, "I think I'll have the Fajitas." Burt possessed a keen intellect and there were not many subjects at which he couldn't hold his own. He read voraciously. He had his own opinions on most things but he was willing to listen to opposing views. I didn't change his mind very often but at least he would give me that little knowing smile that said, "OK, I've listened to you, now shut up." He will be missed. He has lived a long and eventful life. A life full of accomplishment, and joy, and yes, some sadness as well. Now his earthly travails are over and he has rejoined his old pilot buddy Harold Patterson and their 726th Bomb Squadron crew. As always, Burt is up there now in the lead plane, plotting their course toward eternity.