Carl D. Burleson

Carl David Burleson, 64, of Morganton, passed away Wednesday May 9, 2007 at Hospice of Rutherford County. Mr. Burleson was born on February 22, 1943 in Avery County to the late Edward Burleson, Sr. and Lillian Shuffler Burleson. He was a United States Army Veteran, and was a retired Lt. with the Morganton Dept. of Public Safety after 27 years of service. He was a member of the FOP, a lifetime member of the VFW Table Rock Post 5362, he was a member of the Morganton Redeveloping Committee from 1996 until 2000, and was involved with the original planning for the conversion of the Premier building to what is now the Morganton City Hall. He was a member of Calvary Lutheran Church. He is preceded in death by two sisters, Lucille Riggs of Baltimore, Md. and Lois Clark of Drexel. Survivors include his wife, Diane Hembree Burleson of the home; two sons, Eric David Burleson of Mansfield, TX., and Kevin W. Franklin and wife Tracy of Morganton; three grandchildren, Wesley Franklin, Lauren Franklin, and Natalie Franklin; one brother, Edward Burleson, Jr. and wife Boots of Newland, NC; and two sisters, Lee Ann Bethke and husband Glenn of Morganton and Laura Teston and husband Ed of Sylvester, Ga. , also surviving are a number of nieces and nephews. A Celebration of his life will be held at 11:00 A.M. Saturday May 12, 2007 at Calvary Lutheran Church, Morganton. Officiating will be the Rev. Michael Riley. Interment will follow in the Burleson Cemetery, Avery County. The family will receive friends Friday from 6:30-8:30 P.M. at Heritage Funeral Service in Valdese. Memorial contributions may be made to the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 23, P.O. Box 1216 Morganton, NC 28680 or Calvary Lutheran Church, 119 N. King St. Morganton, NC 28655.