Floyde William Burnside Jr.

A celebration of life will be held at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in San Antonio, Texas, on Friday, May 22 at 2 pm.

Floyde worshipped his college sweetheart, Judy, whom he married in 1969. After short stints in Lubbock and Houston, the two made their home in San Antonio, Texas. Over the years they enjoyed many memorable trips, including tours of Italy, Spain, France, and England. He was a loving father and maintained very close relationships with his daughters Kate and Hayley during their childhoods and through their adult lives. He was most proud to be the “chief” of both of their Indian Princess tribes where he instilled the motto “friends always.” Floyde was also close to his son-in-law Heath who shared Floyde’s interests in music and agronomy. Floyde was a devoted grandfather to his three granddaughters Brooke, Paige, and Jane, who he loved dearly.

Floyde learned to play the saxophone early in public school, for which he displayed exceptional skill as evidenced by his being named First Chair in the all-state band as a freshman at Roy Miller High School. Floyde’s saxophone abilities enabled him to play professionally with the likes of Tony White and Ralph Galvan at dances, balls, celebrations, parties, and at small clubs, and he was honored to have won multiple awards for his solo interpretation of “Funny Valentine” at the Corpus Christi Jazz Festival. Earnings from these performances paid for Floyde’s college education, first a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&I (now Texas A&M – Kingsville) and then a master’s degree from Texas Tech University. According to Floyde, although he earned money from his musical performances, he was discouraged that more of the proceeds didn’t flow directly to him. The reality of the life of a musician gave him a penchant for penny-pinching and inspired him to vow to obtain a more secure career in accounting, which became a lifelong passion.

Floyde’s career in accounting spanned forty-five years, the highlight being his co-founding of the successful San Antonio accounting firm Burnside & Rishebarger along with long-time business partner Ed Rishebarger. During his career Floyde provided professional accounting services to prominent Texas families, philanthropists, bankers, corporations, government entities, and associations. He was able to share his love of accounting after retirement by guest lecturing on the subject and later teaching classes regularly to master’s students at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio. Floyde also published a popular book series titled “Handbooks of Accounting.”

Later in life Floyde enjoyed family farming on weekends at the Catchpenny Farm in Wilson County. He developed a full blood French Limousin cattle herd with a champion entry in the State Fair, and was recognized by the agriculture extension service for double-digit protein in the Wilson County hay show contest. He also experimented with growing container trees, as well as truffles after observing the wild pigs of South Texas rooting in the earth around tree roots like the truffle-finding pigs of France.

Floyde was a believer. He was also gregarious, extremely smart, curious, generous, tenderhearted, and very expressive. He made sure the people he loved knew exactly how he felt.

He is survived by his beloved wife Judy Coleman Burnside of San Antonio, daughter Hayley Ann Burnside of San Antonio, daughter Kate Burnside Simpson and son-in-law Heath Simpson of Little Rock, granddaughters Brooke Lucille, Paige Hayley, and Jane Rosaleigh Simpson of Dallas, as well as numerous cousins, nieces and nephews including a namesake Floyde William Burnside, IV. He was preceded in death by his father Floyde and mother Mabel, and brothers Robert and Lawrence. Floyde was also a proud descendant of General Ambrose Everett Burnside, a senior general for the Union during the Civil War.

He was extremely proud of his family, of his partners, his profession, and especially of being a confidante to donors such as self-made multimillionaires, those who use great wealth as benefactors over many generations, and those who sacrifice anonymously to help others with time, talent, and modest unsolicited aid.

Floyde’s associations, accomplishments and accolades are extensive, and include: life member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity; life member and Legion of Honor of Kiwanis International; charter member of the San Antonio Governor’s Club; member of the South Texas Farm and Ranch Club and the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association; Toastmasters International; life member of the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants and American Institute of CPAs; appointed by George W. Bush to the Credit Union Commission of Texas; St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in San Antonio; former member of the Board of Directors of PMI International which was later acquired by PepsiCo; member of the North American Limousin Breeder Foundation; former chairman of the Board of Directors of the YMCA of San Antonio and the Hill Country; and a former Board member of the Mission Road Foundation, just to name a few.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, friends provide encouragement or support to one of the organizations or programs that Floyde was involved in over the years.

Click here to view the service for Mr. Floyde William Burnside Jr. https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/c26056601831406