Burnley Duke Smith, Jr.

He was a true southern gentleman and a lover of nature.

Burnley enlisted in the Army-Air Corps during World War II and was honorably discharged in 1946. Burnley met and married his wife, Jane Gaynor, in 1945.

He attended Arkansas Tech and graduated from Trinity University in 1955 with a degree in biology and a minor in theology. Burnley's work for over 40 years included being a Pioneer with Southwestern Bell Telephone Company and later AT&T in San Antonio, TX.

Among his many interests were entomology, archeology, anthropology, archery, bird-watching, flint-napping and bonsai. Burnley was a ham radio operator, a Boy Scout leader, and a member of the Audubon Society.

He enjoyed classical, mariachi, Cajun, and bagpipe music. He enjoyed reading poetry and reading about the Civil War. He loved flamenco dancing and the Mexican culture.

He had a sophisticated sense of humor and was a wonderful story teller.

After retirement, Burnley went back to school at UTSA in San Antonio to further his interests in anthropology and archeology. He loved his UTSA archeology digs and said that he would dig until he was too old to crawl out of the hole. News photographers covering some of those digs came to know Burnley well and could always recognize him by his floppy hat and suspenders. His class work at UTSA took him on exciting digs at the Alamo and other sights.

He is survived by Jane Gaynor Smith, his loving wife of 67 years; their children and their spouses, Tish and Steve Jennings; Rosemary and Pat Brown; Chris Smith and Dinah Wootton; daughter-in-law, Katy James of Texas; his sister, Louise Podell; and nephews, Rob Hunt, Allen Hunt, and Burnley Smith Hunt of Clarksville, Tennessee.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Burnley Duke Smith and Ellen Bertha Dresel Smith, and by his oldest son, Burnley Duke Michael Smith. Burnley loved people and he loved life.

He loved his family and was loyal to us all. Burnley will be greatly missed.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Rebuilding Together, Attn: Joan Headley, 936 Canterbury Hill, San Antonio, TX 78209.

Funeral is Saturday, May 5th, at 12:15pm at The Hope Lutheran Church, 5714 Callaghan Rd, San Antonio, TX. 78228.