Burton Bledsoe Roton Jr.

Burton Bledsoe Roton Jr., husband, brother, uncle, and friend, passed on to his next chapter peacefully on October 17, 2024. Burton leaves behind a legacy full of love, laughter, and countless War Eagles.

Burton was born and raised in Montgomery, AL. His childhood was filled with happy memories he loved to retell, including his time as an Eagle Scout, his summers spent at Camp Laney, and the numerous practical jokes he loved to play on his parents and older sister.

Burton graduated from Sidney Lanier High School in 1972 before attending Auburn University, where he graduated from the College of Business in 1976. At Auburn, he was an active member of the Delta Tau Delta Fraternity, where he made lifelong friends. He also played the saxophone in the Auburn University Marching Band, returning to perform in Alumni Band Reunion events for more than 20 years.

After graduating from Auburn, Burton moved to Mobile and began his career as a stockbroker. For the next 39 years he worked for several firms, beginning with Merrill Lynch and most recently, Stifel. He was devoted to his clients and coworkers, and was particularly fond of the market’s 3pm closing bell, meaning he could get in an afternoon round of golf several days a week.

In 1992, he married Cynthia (Cindy) Tanner. Together, they loved to host holidays, appreciate music, spend time with family and treat each other to the best things in life. They shared many adventures, visiting everywhere from Bermuda to Scotland, making decades of memories. Regular trips to Auburn during football season were standard for them, the highlight being a trip to Arizona to watch Auburn become the 2010 BCS National Champions.

Burton wore something orange and blue almost every day in tribute to his beloved alma mater. Every December, he and Cindy decorated a bespoke Auburn Christmas tree, much to the horror of his University of Alabama in-laws, nieces, and nephews. He never missed an Auburn game on TV, no matter the sport, even in the last weeks of his life. As Cindy likes to say, “He was War Eagle every day, and twice on Sunday.”

Burton was an avid golfer who made four holes-in-one over his 30+ years of playing and traveled to courses throughout the world in search of more. He loved hunting, dancing, a cold Coors Light, and tending to his camellias. He was a grill master, whose Easter lamb and mint sauce is still discussed by his relatives each year. He loved to drive (sometimes over the speed limit), play jokes, and generally stir up trouble in a good way.

Simply put, Burton loved life. His optimism, lighthearted sense of humor, loyalty and friendship brought joy to many. He is deeply missed.

Burton was preceded in death by his father, Burton Bledsoe Roton, Sr.; his mother, Ann Rogers Perry Roton; his sister, Martha Roton Terry; and his brother-in-law, Charles Jackson Terry.

Burton is survived by his wife, Cindy Tanner Roton; niece, Ann Terry (Jeremy Stein) and their children, Charlie and Taylor; nephew, Caldwell Terry; first cousins Frances Roton Bodner (Matt) and Ray Roton (Sarah); his Delta Tau Delta fraternity brothers; and friends too numerous to count. He is also survived by his mother-in-law, Peggy Tanner; Cindy’s brother, Hugh Tanner (Pamela); niece Paxton Tanner, and nephew Alec Tanner.

The family wishes to thank the staff at Mobile Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, who provided compassionate care to Burton over the last nine years following his heart attack and brain injury in 2015.

A memorial service will be held at Ashland Place Methodist Church in Mobile, AL, on Thursday, November 21, at 1 PM, with a reception following.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the following organizations close to Burton’s heart: Ashland Place United Methodist Church www.apumc.com; Auburn University Foundation Band Donor Program www.band.auburn.edu; Drug Education Council www.drugeducation.org