A.W. Burton

1919 - 2014

A.W. Burton, 95, of Sugar City, died Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014, at Homestead Assisted Living in Rexburg.

A.W. Burton was born Sept. 22, 1919. His mother, Margaret Rosina Winter Burton, died giving birth to Burton, and he was given to the care of an aunt, Bertha Clark, growing up in Huntsville and Kaysville, Utah. Burton grew up with cousins on a family farm. It was a great life for a boy. His father, Thomas Albert Burton, remarried, but Burton never became part of that family, and Thomas died when he was 15.

Burton graduated from Davis High School in Kaysville and after four and a half years, graduated with a degree in vocational/agriculture from Utah State Agricultural College. He ran track for Utah State, his specialty being the mile. His greatest accomplishment during his time at Utah State was meeting Delores Birch in the library.

As World War II was gearing up, Burton decided it was best to join up and have a little more control over his destiny, and he eventually joined the U.S. Army Air Corp. The later part of his training was in Pyote, N.M., where he was captain of a B-17 and given a crew.

Delores met him there, and Burton and Delores were married July 8, 1943, by the base chaplain. On July 19, 1943, they were sealed for time and eternity in the Logan Utah Temple.

The war was something Burton never spoke much about until his later years. It was a definitive time in his life that filled him with great pride and concern. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corp from April 1943 to January 1947 piloting a B-17 completing 28 combat missions over France, Germany, Austria and Poland, 17 as squadron leader. He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross twice. He left the U.S. Army Air Corp as a major.

After the war ended, Burton found employment as a v0cational agriculture high school teacher in Driggs. That was a great part of his life. He loved teaching there and made lifelong friends. In 1950, he began teaching at Sugar-Salem High School until 1958 when he taught welding and drafting at Ricks College for 25 years. He had a master's degree from Utah State University.

Not one to sit idly, Burton used summers to work at other things. He contracted with the U.S. Forest Service in planting and thinning trees and constructing trails. He retired from Ricks College after 25 years. After retirement, he became mayor of Sugar City. That was a turbulent period as many changes were made in the city to bring it up to standards.

His gardens were works of art.

A.W. was a lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served in a college bishopric, a high councilman and gospel doctrine teacher.

Burton and Delores were married 71 years. She was the center and love of his life. He always said she was the smartest person he knew. Burton and Delores have five children: Sonia (Gary) Steed, Mark (Sherrie) Burton, KaraLee (Charles) Ricks, Bruce (Laura) Burton and SueLyn (Bryan) Griffin. They have 26 grandchildren and 56 great-grandchildren. Burton lived an eventful and full life. We'll miss him.

Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 16, at Sugar City LDS Stake Center, 315 E. Third South in Sugar City. The family will receive friends from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday at Flamm Funeral Home and from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. Tuesday at the church prior to services. Interment will be in Sugar City Cemetery with military rites.

Condolences may be sent online to www.flammfh.com.