Harold Britton, formerly of DeWitt NY, passed away quietly on October 31st at the Briody Health Care Facility, Lockport, NY at age 98. Harold was the son of chemist, Dr. Edgar C. Britton and Grace Van Huss Britton. He was born in Ann Arbor and grew up in Midland, Michigan. He began his lifetime passion for music playing French horn in grade school.
After graduating in Electrical Engineering (member of the marching band) from the University of Michigan in 1941, he began his career at General Electric. With war underway in Europe, he was assigned in Fort Wayne, Indiana by GE to resolve problems with ignition coils being manufactured for early P-51 Mustang fighters. He quickly established new tests and changed the manufacturing procedures to achieve dramatically better reliability, reducing aircraft losses. While there, he met the love of his life, Martha Gesler, but General Electric assigned him to a RADAR design team in Schenectady, NY. He and Martha were married on Christmas day, 1942. They stayed in Schenectady for the duration of the war after which his job was relocated to Syracuse. During his many years with GE in Syracuse, his projects involved radar and sonar, but most too secret to discuss. He retired in 1983.
Harold and Martha were longtime members of the University United Methodist Church where he became a choir member. He also maintained audio equipment, and completed many improvement projects for the church. He and Martha spent many hours cataloging music to create a music library in Chittenango, NY. He played French horn in many groups around the Syracuse area until the age of 92. He then moved to Lockport, NY where he was able to participate in music through the help of family, friends, Briody and local churches.
He is predeceased by his wife of 52 years, Martha Gesler RN and his brother Dr. Joseph Britton, sister-in-law, Dr. Jean Britton, and brother-in-law, Marvin Swift. He is survived by five children, Wayne (Scotty), Gary (Mary), Dale (Marian), Paul, Elizabeth Wrisley (Russ), seven grandchildren, Seaver, Tyler and Connor Wrisley, Kelsey, Katy, Dennis and Jeffrey Britton, two sisters, Lennis Swift, and Linda Halsey (Dr. John Halsey) and a brother, Dr. Daniel Britton (Dr. Geraldine Britton RN) and many loving nieces and nephews.
Calling hours for friends and family will be held on Friday, November 11 from 3:00 to 6:00 pm at the Prudden & Kandt Funeral Home 242 Genesee Street, Lockport, NY 14094.
A memorial service will be conducted at the Emmanuel United Methodist Church on Saturday November 12 at 1:00 pm. A reception will follow at the Cornell Cooperative Extension at the Niagara County Fairgrounds, 4487 Lake Avenue, Lockport NY 14094.
Memorial gifts in Harold’s honor can be made to the Onondaga Civic Symphony Orchestra, PO Box 5171, Syracuse, NY 13220
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