William T. Burroughs
William T. Burroughs, 64, passed away on April 2, 2021, in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Bill was born on April 26, 1956, and was the son of the now deceased William T. and Augustine Burroughs, née Gurkin. He grew up on the East Coast of the United States in a U.S. Coast Guard family. In the family tradition, Bill served and retired from the United States Coast Guard after 20 years of honorable service. After retirement, he honed his hobby of woodworking into a cabinet making business - Burroughs & Sons, where he worked with his two sons. Bill was an avid traveler, connoisseur of fine bourbon, and Carol’s fabulous cooking. He was a one of a kind and will be missed by all who knew him.
His is survived by the love of his life, Carol Ricketts; devoted sons, William T. Burroughs III and Jacob A. Burroughs; grandchildren, William T. IV, Dechlan, Memphis, and Roisin; sisters, Linda (Harry Trimble) and Carol (JC Dennis), as well as a large circle of family and friends in many U.S. States, and Newfoundland, Canada.
A memorial service is being planned to take place in Maryland at a future date.
Donations in Bill’s memory can be made to the American Cancer Society.
High Flight
By John Gillespie Magee, Jr.
Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth,
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed and joined the tumbling mirth of sun-split clouds -
and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of -
wheeled and soared and swung high in the sunlit silence.
Hovering there I've chased the shouting wind along
and flung my eager craft through footless halls of air.
"Up, up the long delirious burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace,
where never lark, or even eagle, flew;
and, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
the high untrespassed sanctity of space,
put out my hand and touched the face of God.