Burdette T. Person

Burdette “Skins” T. Person, 90, Placerville, Calif., born December 2, 1921, in Rockford, Ill., to August and Frieda Ledin Person, died peacefully June 8, with his family by his side.

Two children, Karen Jackson, and her husband Jeff, of Sandy Hook and Bruce Person of Placerville, Calif., five grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren survive “Skins,” as he was know to friends and family. He was preceded in death by his beautiful wife, Rita Richards Person, and five siblings.

His nickname was derived from one of his many talents, as a drummer. He was also versatile musically as a violinist and saxophone player.

Mr Person’s love of aeronautics began in high school after taking flying lessons, and then continued as a fighter and a bomber pilot in World War II and the Korean War. Following the end of the war he began a distinguished career as an aeronautical engineer.

He received an aeronautical engineering Degree from Northrop Institute of Technology. While working at Edwards Air Base in California he developed a close association with Florence “Pancho” Barnes, pioneer woman aviatrix and adventurer who was a source of many interesting and colorful exploits. For a while he managed her ranch, The Happy Bottom Riding Club, made famous in the movie The Right Stuff, sharing the excitement with the world’s greatest pilots, who were attempting to break the sound barrier and bring jet propulsion into the world of aviation.

This led to a very successful career at Rocketdyne in Canoga Park, Calif. He was instrumental in the development of solid fuel rocket propulsion for the Apollo manned space flight missions and then later the Space Shuttle Program. In 1972 his “get it done” work ethic proved invaluable when his career took him to Japan as the envoy from Rockwell International (Rocketdyne) to assist with setup, manufacture, and successful launch of large payload rocket engine systems.

His efforts resulted in cementing ongoing working relationships between the United States and Japan and provided a completely tooled and productive rocket program for Japan ahead of schedule, earning him distinguished service commendations from the Emperor of Japan and high ranking officials in the Japanese aeronautical industry.

Upon retirement the Persons moved to Pollock Pines, Calif. In 1986, upon the tragic explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger, he was requested to come out of retirement to help determine the cause of the rocket failure. Using his slide rule and drawing on his vast knowledge, he and his team were able to determine the source of the failure, enabling the continuation of the Space Shuttle Program.

Although blind with macular degeneration, Mr Person was an avid golfer and sunk three holes in one after becoming legally blind. He was also an accomplished woodworker, designing and crafting fine furniture until forced to stop by his advancing blindness. He was an inveterate traveler, making bi-annual trips to Newtown to visit family, as well as extended trips to Sweden, Japan, and the Caribbean.

The gentle and loving “Dad/Papa” will not only be missed by his loving family, but also by many Placerville residents and businesses where he could be found enjoying dinner and dancing to the music of local bands until after his 90th birthday. His life was an adventure with a purpose that touched all of his family, in some way.

Please consider memorial donations to the American Cancer Society, PO Box 22718, Oklahoma City OK 73123-1718, or the Disabled American Veterans, PO Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45290-0301.

The Newtown Bee        June 29, 2012