IN MEMORIAM
EXPANDED EULOGIES
“In Memoriam” listings are expanded paid obituaries, phrased as the family requests, and may include enhanced information or photographs that might not fit within free death notices.
Bill Burton
Funeral service for William “Bill” Gilbert Burton, 85, Marion, who passed away June 9, 2024, will be 10 a.m. Saturday, June 22, 2024, at Yazel-Megli Funeral Home, Marion. Burial will follow at Marion Cemetery.
His family will gather with friends 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, June 21, 2024, at the funeral home.
Bill was born Sept. 4, 1938, to Annie (Patterson) and Gilbert Burton in Rumley Township, Harrison County, Ohio. He was the second of five children.
Bill grew up in Scio with his siblings. They lived and worked on a family farm, which Bill enjoyed.
He attended high school in Scio, where he was a part of FFA and 4-H. He graduated from Scio High School in 1957.
On March 2, 1958, Bill joined the U.S. Air Force. He was stationed at Schilling Air Force Base in Salina, then was sent to Guam and stationed there.
Bill met Marilyn Scheuerman while based at Schilling and married her July 17, 1959.
They welcomed a daughter, Kimberly Kay, on March 30, 1960. On March 15, 1963, they welcomed a son, Randy William. On Feb. 13, 1965, they welcomed another son, Rusty Wayne. They later divorced.
Bill moved his family to Perrysville, Ohio, in the early ’60s.
Bill worked hard to support his family while living in Perrysville and enjoyed that his children were able to spend time with their cousins.
After a few years of living in Ohio, Bill and his family returned to La Crosse, and he started working at Marlette Mobile Homes in Great Bend in the late ’60s. Once La Crosse Furniture Factory was built and open, Bill went to work there as a fabric cutter.
On Jan. 23, 1976, Bill married the love of his life, Charlotte Miller. Bill and Charlotte met while working at La Crosse Furniture Factory.
Charlotte had three children from a previous marriage: Julie Scheideman, Robin Scheideman, and Patsy Kline. Bill loved them as if they were his own.
Shortly after their marriage, they moved to Marion. While living in Marion, Bill started working at Branson Truck Lines, hauling cattle.
In the summer of 1982, Bill and Charlotte moved to Ohio to begin their careers owning and operating a dairy farm. Bill enjoyed owning a farm where his children, nieces, and nephews could learn valuable skills.
In the winter of 1985, Bill suffered a massive cerebral hemorrhage while out getting firewood. He relied heavily on his faith to get him through this challenging time.
When Bill came home from the hospital, he opened his Bible, and the verse that stood out to him was Mark 5:19: “Jesus would not let him. Instead, he told him, ‘Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you and how kind he has been to you.’ ”
From this point forward, Bill did not take for granted the life the Lord had given him back.
While living in Ohio, Bill and Charlotte decided to open their home for children in the foster care system. In 1988, they decided to adopt Carol Benavidez and Bobby Burton.
In 1990, Bill and Charlotte left the dairy farm and moved back to Marion. They continued to foster children upon arriving in Kansas.
During this time, Bill opened a bait shop and was loyal to his customers, even when they needed bait in the middle of the night.
In 2002, Bill and Charlotte moved to Newton. Bill went to work as a maintenance man at Norcraft. He continued to work until 2018, shortly after he turned 80, then he retired.
In his spare time, Bill enjoyed spending time with friends and family members, going to church, singing, playing instruments, fishing, collecting, gardening, and going on drives with Charlotte.
Bill was loving and supportive. He enjoyed making others laugh and teasing his grandchildren.
Bill was preceded in death by parents Annie (Patterson) and Gilbert Burton, wife Charlotte Burton, stepdaughter Robin Scheideman, brother Robert Burton, sister Donna Leggett, and great-granddaughter Madison Baylor Spears.
He is survived by siblings Edward Burton and Judy and Wayne Rogers; children Kim and Artie Herrman, Randy and Cindy Burton, Rusty and Tonya Burton, Julie Scheideman, Patsy and Mike Kline, Carol Benavidez, and Bobby and Crystal Burton; 15 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and many foster children.
Memorial contributions in his name may be directed to the American Parkinson Disease Association.
Please sign his online guestbook and leave a memory of him at www.yazelmeglifh.com.