Howard Arthur Britton

Dr. Britton graduated from New York Medical College in 1948. He went on to serve as a Flight Surgeon in the United States Air Force from 1950-1953, based in San Marcos, Texas. He entered private practice as a pediatrician in San Antonio in 1954, retiring in 1980. From 1980-1991 he was the Medical Director of the Santa Rosa Children's Hospital. While working at Santa Rosa Hospital, he specialized in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology. As a compassionate physician he touched the lives of countless patients and their families throughout Central and South Texas.

His third career was as a Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio until his retirement in 2006. During his tenure at the University, he was the Medical Director of the Sickle Cell program and the South Texas Hemophilia and Thrombophilia center. There, three decades of medical residents were guided by his mentorship and love of teaching.

Dr. Britton was instrumental in the founding of the San Antonio Ronald McDonald House. He was a leader in the community as president of the medical staff at the Bexar County Hospital District and president of the San Antonio Pediatric Society. He was a long time member of Temple Beth-El and served on their Board of Directors.

Howard was predeceased by his parents, Hattie and J. Robert Britton and younger brother, Norman. His loving wife of nearly 60 years, June, passed away in 2011.

Known to his family as "Howie," he is survived by his children, David Britton; daughter, Linda Hochster and husband, Jeffrey; daughter Amy Fintel and husband, Steve; grandchildren, Brent Jones and wife, Sarah; Jennifer Goldman and husband, Yehuda, Eliana Britton, Jessica Britton, Alison Fintel, and Jeremy Fintel. In honor of his beloved wife, Howie's first great-granddaughter was named June.

Burial will be in Beth-El Memorial Park, 1715 Austin Highway, Monday afternoon.

MEMORIAL SERVICE

MONDAY

MARCH 3, 2014

5:00 P.M.

TEMPLE BETH-EL, WULFE SANCTUARY

211 BELKNAP PLACE

RECEPTION IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING

Rabbi Samuel Stahl officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Children's Hospital Foundation, 100 Northeast Loop 410, Suite 706, San Antonio, Texas 78216-2800; Temple Beth-El; Ronald McDonald House, 4803 Sid Katz Dr., San Antonio, Texas 78229.

IF TOMORROW NEVER COMES

If I knew it would be the last time that I'd see you fall asleep, I would tuck you in more tightly and Pray the Lord your soul to keep.

If I knew it would be the last time that I see you walk out the door, I would give you a hug and kiss and call you back for one more.

If I knew it would be the last time I'd hear your voice lifted up in praise, I would videotape each action and word, so I could play them back day after day.

If I knew it would be the last time, I could spare an extra minute or two to stop and say, "I love you," instead of assuming you would know I do.

If I knew it would be the last time I would be there to share your day, well I'm sure you'll have so many more, so I can let just this one slip away.

For surely there's always tomorrow to make up for an oversight, and we always get a second chance to make everything right.

There will always be another day to say our, "I love you's" and certainly there's another chance to say our "Anything I can do's?"

But just in case I might be wrong, and today is all I get.

I'd like to say how much I love you and I hope we never forget.

Tomorrow is not promised to anyone, young or old alike, and today may be the last chance you get to hold your loved one tight.

So if you're waiting for tomorrow, why not do it today? For if tomorrow never comes, you'll surely regret the day that you didn't take that extra time for a smile, a hug, or a kiss, and you were too busy to grant someone, what turned out to be their one last wish.

So hold your loved ones close today, whisper in their ears, tell them how much you love them and that you'll always hold them dear.

Take time to say, "I'm sorry," "please forgive me," "thank you" or "it's OK"

And if tomorrow never comes, you'll have no regrets about today.