(June 22, 2009)--Burna Frank Battles, 68, of Hamilton, who died Saturday in a two-car collision near Oglesby west of Waco, was a longtime member of the Baylor University faculty, the university confirmed Monday.

Karla Denise Warren, 37, of Chilton, remained in critical condition Monday after the deadly weekend accident.

Warren was driving a Ford Mustang east on Highway 84 Saturday near Oglesby when a 2004 Honda driven by Battles veered into her lane.

Investigators said Battles overcorrected after his car went off the highway and ended up swerving into oncoming traffic.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Warren was flown to Scott & White.

Her passenger, Jay McGinty, 49, of Waco, was flown to Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center in Waco where he was in stable condition Monday.

Battles earned degrees from Baylor in 1965 and 1966,and was on the faculty of the School of Education for 42 years.

Dr. Jon Engelhardt, dean of the School of Education, described Battles as a "very affirming person.”

“It seemed he never met a person he didn't like. He was positive about people and excited about life,” he said.

“Burnie also loved to talk about taking elementary school-age children on cave exploration trips - he was an expert in spelunking. He got such joy out of taking children on their very first experience in cave exploration and being able to give that experience to them. That came from his love of teaching,” he said.

Battles is survived by his wife Mary Helen Battles, whom he met at Baylor, his three children and four grandchildren.

Funeral services are at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Seventh and James Baptist Church in Waco.

Visitation is from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey, 6101 Bosque Blvd.