Friday, September 9, 2022, the family of Burford Eugene, “B.E.”, “Bill,” Rector, 89 of Orange, Texas lost their hero. If the measure of a man is determined by how well he takes care of his family, then Burford Rector was a giant of a man.

He was born in Douglass, Nacogdoches County, Texas to Joseph Preston Rector and Cora Lee Rector November 21, 1932, and had been a resident of the Orange area since 1942. He was a Christian and longtime member of McDonald Memorial Baptist Church in West Orange. His working career began at the age of six picking cotton as part of his migrant farm worker family and demonstrated a strong work ethic at an early age. After his family moved to Orange, he mowed lawns, delivered newspapers for The Orange Leader, was a box boy/stocker for local supermarkets, and upon graduating from high school was an apprentice machinist for American Bridge. As a machinist, he enjoyed being part of a team that helped keep Allied Chemical (presently Honeywell), in Orange, operating for 41 years before his retirement.

Burford was a 1952 graduate of Lutcher Stark High School in Orange. Through his diligence and hard work, he was able to help each member of his family attend college. Burford was a humble man of humble beginnings, yet he will be lovingly remembered by his family and friends for generations to come for his love, devotion, care, generosity, and honesty.

Burford was a dedicated family man whose world revolved around his family. His hobbies included taking care of the family home and making sure the family automobiles were working properly and safely. He enjoyed wood working, bowling, writing poetry, and playing his guitar, gardening, playing golf, and restoring old cars with his family. He enjoyed family camping and travel in 46 of the United States. Upon retirement he and his wife enjoyed cruises through the Panama Canal, and to Alaska; as well as travel in Alaska, Canada, Mexico, and more than 37 countries in Scandinavia, Europe, Eastern Europe, and the Caribbean. He especially enjoyed the comradery of his golf buddies, his Sunday School Class members, his Highway 62 Waffle House breakfast club, and Kroger coffee club friends.

Burford is preceded in death by his parents; brother, Milford, “Red”, Rector; and sister-in-law, La Nell Rector; sister, Thelma Cotton, and brother-in law, D. W. “D” Cotton, all of Vidor; and sister Lerma Franklin of Magnolia, Texas; and his beloved father-in-law and mother-in-law, Ed and Arleaze Cormier, of Orange.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years Lynda Rector; his sons: Michael Rector and wife Stacy Rector, of Bridge City, and Edward Lee Rector and wife Jennifer Rector, of Nederland; his daughter: Lisa Cowart and husband Kerry Cowart, of The Woodlands, Texas; grandsons: Tyler Rector, of Beaumont, Dallas Rector, of Nederland, Preston Rector, of Orange, and Jacob Cowart, of The Woodlands; granddaughter: Madison Cowart, of Washington, D. C.; and several nieces, and nephews; and their children.

A gathering of Mr. Rector’s family and friends will be Tuesday, September 13 at 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at Claybar Funeral Home, 504 N. 5th Street, Orange, Texas; a graveside service will follow at 1:00 p.m. at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens, 4560 Highway 87 South, Orange, led by Rev. Glenn Messer of Green Valley, Arizona. Burford’s sons, son-in-law, and grandsons are honored to serve as pallbearers.