It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of the patriarch of the Burton family, Zeb Carson Burton, Junior, at age 91. Zeb passed peacefully at home in the early hours of July 18, 2023, with his loving wife Peggy by his side, just as she had been for their 66-year marriage.
Zeb was born at home, on a tobacco farm in Cedar Grove, NC, in March 1932. He was the second child and eldest son of Zebulon Carson Burton, Sr., and Susan Warren Burton. As a young man, he was determined to become a doctor. He was the valedictorian at Charles B. Aycock High School, and was the first member of his family to graduate from college. He graduated from Wake Forest University, and then attended Bowman Gray School of Medicine, both in Winston-Salem, NC. It was there that he met his future wife, Peggy Anne Goode, while she was attending nursing school. They were married in December, 1956. Zeb then completed an Internal Medicine Residency at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, GA. Zeb entered the U.S. Air Force, and spent the following two years as a Captain and Flight Surgeon in Grand Forks, ND. After completion of his military service, Zeb returned to Grady Memorial Hospital in order to further specialize in cardiology. Zeb practiced internal medicine in Huntington, WV, before moving to Winter Park, FL, in 1972 to practice as a board-certified cardiologist. Zeb was very involved and highly respected in the Central Florida medical community, becoming President of the Central Florida chapter of the Florida Heart Association in 1977-1978, Chairman of the Department of Cardiology at Florida Hospital in 1983-1985, Director of the Cardiac Catheterization Lab at Winter Park Memorial Hospital in 1984-1985, and President of the Medical Staff at Florida Hospital in 1987.
Despite all his success and renown in his professional life, Zeb would frequently say that his greatest accomplishment and joy was his family. He is survived by his wife, Peggy (Goode) Burton; their four children, Michael Erick Burton, Glynda Suzanne Burton, Julie (Burton) Ford, and Kelly (Burton) Perrin; and 10 grandchildren, along with numerous nieces, nephews, and other extended family. A loving and indulgent husband and father, he instilled in his children a love of learning and education, empathy and respect for everyone, and joy in nature. Zeb was truly a Renaissance man, who had a profound knowledge of science and history, a deep and eclectic love of music, an amazing self-taught ability at carpentry and wildlife photography, and was a single-digit handicap golfer with multiple holes-in-one. His entire family would play as a team against him in Trivial Pursuit and lose. He would often say, "Money spent on a book is never wasted," and was a voracious reader, especially of non-fiction. He made special note of the first lines of his books; his favorite was from Ken Follett's The Key to Rebecca: "The last camel collapsed at noon." Zeb and Peggy traveled often, visiting all fifty states, as well as Europe, Africa, and Canada. These trips were frequently wildlife safaris; Zeb photographed grizzly bears, moose, wolves, polar bears, lions, bald eagles, and many others.
Zeb had an enormous heart (which was fitting for a cardiologist), and was generous with his time and attention to his family, friends, colleagues, and patients. His wisdom, humor, affection, and advice will be sorely missed by everyone who knew him.
"…and when he shall die, Take him and cut him out in little stars, And he will make the face of heaven so fine That all the world will be in love with night And pay no worship to the garish sun." William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet
The family will be having a private celebration of his life. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Yellowstone National Park, at yellowstone.org. Zeb donated to this same cause every year; he would greatly appreciate the remembrance.