Burton Poulson Bailey

Burton Poulson Bailey

September 13, 1927 – November 6, 2025

“Three children who turned out better than I ever could have hoped.

They look out for me now, just as Gene and I once looked out for them.”

— Burton P. Bailey, from his memoir

Burton Poulson Bailey, 98, passed away peacefully on November 6, 2025, at The Templeton of Cary in Cary, North Carolina.

Burt was a stoic, curious, and quietly inventive man—an engineer in both mind and instinct. After graduating from the University of Cincinnati, he served as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Air Force, specializing in technical operations during the post–World War II era.

He built a long and meaningful career in the chemical and paper industries, holding leadership roles at DuPont, Mead, Rochester Paper, and Georgia Pacific. He was especially proud of his work on specialized filter papers and a federal project that advanced U.S. currency paper technology. Even after retirement, he consulted internationally, including a project in Ukraine.

In his final year, Mr. Bailey undertook one last project: writing a book. With the help of his end-of-life doula, he spent weekends reflecting on his life, recording stories, and shaping them into a memoir. The result, Memories of Burton P. Bailey, was published just weeks before his 98th birthday—an accomplishment of which he was immensely proud. The book remains a lasting gift to his family and a testament to his legacy. It is available at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FPBQ1L8L

With his beloved wife Gene—whom he met by chance at a summer lake gathering in Tennessee—Burt built a life full of travel, adventure, laughter, and family. Married for 69 years, they raised their children in Ohio and Michigan before retiring to Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia, and later settling in Holly Springs, North Carolina.

Burt was immensely proud of his children and the lives they built. He found deep joy in their accomplishments, their families, and the Sunday evening Zoom calls that kept him connected to the rhythm of their lives. His great-grandson Nolan, in particular, brought a bright spark to his final years.

Survived By: Children: Ed (Marlene), Steve (Christine), and Barbara (Greg) Grandchildren: Tucker (Nicole), Laura (Adam), Christopher (Emily), Josh (Kelli), Matt (Beth), Amarra, Ryan, Tyler and Great-grandsons Nolan, Oliver and Emmett.

He is preceded in death by his beloved wife Gene and their first daughter, Barbara.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, November 15, 2025, at 2:30 p.m. at Kirk of Kildare, 200 High Meadow Dr., Cary, NC 27511.

Burt lived a long, meaningful, and accomplished life. He leaves behind a legacy of integrity, ingenuity, and devotion—a quiet strength that lives on in the family he loved so deeply.