Richard was born in Passaic, N.J. on June 12, 1933 to the now deceased Clark V. Britton and Eleanor Musgrove. He resided in N.J. until his family moved south in 1941. After living in Florida and Alabama his family moved to Moss Point, MS. Where he graduated from High School. He attended and Graduated from Alabama Polytechnic Institute (Auburn University) with a degree of Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering.He married Carol J. Speed the day after. They had 4 children in their 25 years of marriage at which time Carol died of cancer. He married Ann P. Haskew and blended her 2 children with his family. They were married 17 years until Ann’s untimely death. He then married Elizabeth D. Irvine in 1999 and blended her daughter into his family.
Richard had a 40 plus year career with International Paper Co., (IP) and retired as Manager of Control Engineering Process Control Technology. He was a licensed professional engineer. Early in his career he joined his professional Society (International Society of Automation, ISA). He was very active in ISA at the local and international level. He wrote and presented five technical papers presented at conferences, one of which was published in the ISA technical journal (In Tech). Richard received several awards while in ISA, one of which was the Distinguished Society Service Award. He was the recipient of Mobile County’s Outstanding Engineer Award I 1992 by the Mobile Area Council of Engineers. After retiring from IP he was selected by ISA to be Vice President of their South East District for a two year term.
During his retirement he worked with the Wheel-a-Meal program in his community and was an avid radio control airplane builder and flyer. He was very active in his church as a member of the choir and held many position of responsibility. Richard was an active member of General Galvez chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution.
Richard was preceded in death by wives, Carol J. Speed, Ann P. Haskew and Elizabeth D. Irving; his daughter, Amy Britton Foshee; step-daughter, Jeannette Moore; and his parents, Clark V. and Eleanor Musgrove Britton. He is survived by his 3 children, Kathleen (Keith) Warren, Beth (Vann) Kelly and Michael E. (Janice) Britton; step-children, Tim (Ashley) Haskew, and Porter Kaskew; grandchildren, Keane Warren, Savannah Warren, Alyce Tonon, Phillip Foshee, Nathan Kelly and Shea Kelly; step-grandchildren, Austin (Ashley) Haskew, Logan (Brandy) Haskew and Britni Kidwell; great grandchildren, Blakely Foshee and Nolan Griner; brother, Clark V. Britton, Jr., also, survived by other relatives and friends.
JUNE 12, 1933 – JANUARY 25, 2024
Memorial Service will be held at Spring Hill Presbyterian Church on Thursday, February 1, 2024 at 11:30 a.m. Private interment was held at Mobile Memorial Gardens, Mobile, AL.
