1993. In 1991 the Burpee company was acquired by George J. Ball, Inc. (now Ball Horticultural Company), a diversified horticultural family business. In 1995 the family split up the various holdings, with George Ball Jr. taking control of Burpee. Burpee died in Doylestown on June 24, 1980. References Bibliography Biography of David Burpee 1893 births 1980 deaths American horticulture businesspeople Cornell University alumni Culver Academies alumni