William Hardy Burt

William “Bill” Burt was born on April 7, 1923 in Skidmore, Texas, a small farming community in Bee County. Even today it’s population is less than a thousand. His family were farmers. His father left to join the Navy to make a better living for his family, and when William was old enough, he did the same as his Dad, joined the Navy on March 18, 1941 at the age of 17.

After training as a Parachute Rigger and Aircraft Mechanic in San Diego, California, Bill was stationed in Kaneoehe Bay, Hawaii with the 14th Patrol Squadron. Twenty Four PBY Catalinas “Flying Boats”, were their aircraft. Bill was there during the attack on Pearl Harbor, Kaneoehe Bay, and other targets that day. Twenty-three of the twenty-four PBYs were bombed and destroyed on the flightline, one surviving PBY was in the water at the time.

Upon his Honorable Discharge from the Navy in 1946, Bill enlisted in the USAF and served for 3 years.

William was widowed in 2001 by his first wife Bernice after over 50 years of marriage.

William was married to Juanita Shrader in May, 2004. They loved to travel and drove through many states to the East coast and West coast destinations, and also cruised much of the Caribbean, Cozumel, Grand Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Honduras, Beleze, Costa Rica, and Panama Canal. Bill was also an avid fisherman, both salt water and fresh waters.

William Hardy Burt is survived by his wife of 17 years, Juanita Burt of Houston, her son Donald Shrader and wife Laura, son Rick Shrader and wife Jodi, grandson John Shrader and wife Esther with their 12 children (the entire family are in Zambia Africa as Missionaries), grandsons, Jared Shrader, Seth Shrader and Joel Shrader of, granddaughter Sarah Shrader, deceased is survived by her husband Anthony Waller and daughter Julia Grace Waller of Spring, Texas.

At 98 years old he was still tall and straight and would probably very easily still fit his uniforms of nearly 70 years ago! William will be missed.

A visitation for William will be held Tuesday, July 20, 2021 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at American Heritage Funeral Home, 10710 Veterans Memorial Drive, Houston, TX 77038. A funeral service will occur Tuesday, July 20, 2021 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM, 10710 Veterans Memorial Drive, Houston, TX 77038. A committal service will occur Tuesday, July 20, 2021 from 1:15 PM to 1:30 PM at Houston National Cemetery, 10410 Veterans Memorial Drive, Houston, TX 77038.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.AmericanHeritageFuneralHome.com for the Burt family.