OBIT/PPG's J. Earl Burrell Dead At Age 80
29 August 2000
OBIT/PPG's J. Earl Burrell Dead At Age 80
PITTSBURGH--Aug. 29, 2000--J. Earl Burrell, who retired from PPG Industries in 1984 as president and chief operating officer, died on Aug. 28 at his home in Naples, Fla. He would have observed his 81st birthday on Sept. 7.Burrell joined PPG's chemicals research department in 1941 at Barberton, Ohio, after earning a chemical engineering degree from the University of Michigan. He transferred to the operating department at Barberton in 1946. He moved to the chemicals complex at Natrium, W.Va., in 1952 as operations superintendent and became assistant works manager there in 1955.
In 1956 he was named assistant to the vice president of chemicals operations at PPG's Pittsburgh headquarters, became general manager of chemical operations in 1958, and was elected vice president of chemical operations in 1961.
Burrell was elected chemicals vice president and general manager in 1966, corporate executive vice president of operations in 1975, and president and chief operating officer in 1976.
Prior to his retirement from PPG, Burrell was an advisory director of Pittsburgh National Bank; a member of the Duquesne University board and University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Business board of visitors, the investment committee of the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh and the board of Metropolitan Pittsburgh Public Broadcasting (WQED). He was a member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, American Chemical Society, Professional Engineers of Ohio, and Pittsburgh's Duquesne Club and Valley Brook Country Club.
In Naples he was a member of St. William Catholic Church and of The Club at Pelican Bay.
Burrell was the son of the late Fred W. and Rosa Burrell of St. Petersburg, Fla. He is survived by his wife, Margaret; their six children, Robert E. Burrell of Detroit, John F. Burrell of Wilmington, N.C., Marcia A. Schwartz of Pittsburgh, Jane E. Franskousky of Cincinnati, Christopher J. Burrell of Evansville, Ind., and Susan M. Burrell of Orlando, Fla.; and eight grandchildren and one great-grandson.
He is also survived by three sisters: Agnes Gehant of Seminole, Fla.; Marian Leckey of Aurora, Ill.; and Gladys Schmit, also of Aurora. Another sister and a brother are deceased.
Visitation will be from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday (Aug. 31) at Beinhauer Funeral Services, 2828 Washington Road, McMurray, Pa. A funeral mass will be conducted at 11:30 a.m. Friday (Sept. 1) at St. Thomas More Church, 126 Ft. Couch Road, Bethel Park, Pa. Interment will be at Queen of Heaven cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the Burrell family suggests contributions to Benedictine University, Community Development, 5700 College Road, Lisle, IL 60532; Hospice of Naples, 1095 Whippoorwill Lane, Naples, FL 34105; or American Cancer Society, 320 Billmar Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15205.
Internet: www.ppg.com