Mr. Walter Lawrence Burton passed away at home on February 13, 2023 at the age of 83 following an extended illness. Born on January 16, 1940, he was the first of three sons born to W.L. and Mary Burton. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, James Callaway Burton, and also by his paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. W.L. Burton (Effie), and his maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Herman Callaway (Ella) of Tignall. He was part of a family with ties to Wilkes County that began in 1783.
Mr. Burton is survived by his beloved wife of 37 years, Sandra Kish Burton of Washington. He is also survived by a brother, Emory Allen Burton (Patricia) of Washington; a nephew, Allen Bonner Burton (Lindsay) of Gainesville; and a niece, Julie Burton Arora (Vishal) of Evans. Additionally, he is survived by a sister-in-law, Jane B. Burton of Washington; a nephew, James Callaway Burton, Jr. (Nikki) of Cleveland, Tennessee; and a brother-in-law, Paul John Kish (Pamela) of Vero Beach, Florida. A dedicated animal lover, he is also survived by his faithful companions, Nicholas and Katy.
Lawrence grew up and attended schools in Washington and then graduated from the University of Georgia with a B.A. in Journalism and as a Distinguished Graduate of the Air Force ROTC Program. He was also a member of Sigma Delta Chi and the Men's Glee Club. In later years, he earned an M.S. in Education from the University of Southern California.
In 1962 he entered the Air Force where he served for 25 years. He had assignments in New Mexico, Texas, Vietnam, Germany, Alabama, Illinois, Florida, and twice in Georgia. While in Vietnam, he served in a rescue squadron engaged in recovery of U.S. personnel who had been shot down in combat operations. He assisted in the performance of the first emergency air-to-air refueling of an unarmed helicopter by a HC130-P over unfriendly territory.
He spent 1964 in Waco, Texas, in Air Force navigator training. Following that, he was assigned to a transport squadron at Warner Robins with the primary mission of moving nuclear weapons between maintenance depots in the US and operational units worldwide.
After retiring from the Air Force in 1988, he worked 4 years for Lockheed Space Operations Company at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida as manager of transportation and being responsible for all government and commercial transportation support required in the preparation, launch, and recovery of Space Shuttle flights.
Shortly after joining Lockheed, he participated in establishing two launch abort sites in Africa for the shuttle's use in case it was unable to reach orbit. The project required the movement of everything from four fire trucks to office equipment and supplies via an ocean-going barge.
Lawrence's mother, Mary Burton, helped establish the Meals on Wheels program in Washington, and he sometimes accompanied her when visiting at home. The week after he left Lockheed, he met a supervisor for the program where he lived in Florida, and she recruited him. He served 3 years there until moving home to Washington, where he volunteered for a weekly route and served faithfully until 2019 when his health made it impossible for him to continue.
He was appointed to the Wilkes County Hospital Authority in 2003 and served as chairman for 15 years. He was proud of the work they did in managing Wills Memorial Hospital and providing first-rate care to Wilkes County citizens at a time when Federal reimbursements declined significantly and county financial support ceased altogether. A highlight of his term was the expansion and revitalization of Wills Memorial Hospital into the modern facility we enjoy today.
Lawrence was a member of the Episcopal Church of the Mediator in Washington.
A service with military honors will be held at Resthaven Cemetery in Washington at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 21, 2023, with interment alongside his parents and brother. The service will be conducted by Reverend Doctor Steven Dodson of Thomson with the assistance of Hopkins Funeral Home. The immediate family will receive friends and family from 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. at Hopkins Funeral Home prior to the service.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Wills Memorial Hospital or to a charity of one's choice.
Mr. Burton is survived by his beloved wife of 37 years, Sandra Kish Burton of Washington. He is also survived by a brother, Emory Allen Burton (Patricia) of Washington; a nephew, Allen Bonner Burton (Lindsay) of Gainesville; and a niece, Julie Burton Arora (Vishal) of Evans. Additionally, he is survived by a sister-in-law, Jane B. Burton of Washington; a nephew, James Callaway Burton, Jr. (Nikki) of Cleveland, Tennessee; and a brother-in-law, Paul John Kish (Pamela) of Vero Beach, Florida. A dedicated animal lover, he is also survived by his faithful companions, Nicholas and Katy.
Lawrence grew up and attended schools in Washington and then graduated from the University of Georgia with a B.A. in Journalism and as a Distinguished Graduate of the Air Force ROTC Program. He was also a member of Sigma Delta Chi and the Men's Glee Club. In later years, he earned an M.S. in Education from the University of Southern California.
In 1962 he entered the Air Force where he served for 25 years. He had assignments in New Mexico, Texas, Vietnam, Germany, Alabama, Illinois, Florida, and twice in Georgia. While in Vietnam, he served in a rescue squadron engaged in recovery of U.S. personnel who had been shot down in combat operations. He assisted in the performance of the first emergency air-to-air refueling of an unarmed helicopter by a HC130-P over unfriendly territory.
He spent 1964 in Waco, Texas, in Air Force navigator training. Following that, he was assigned to a transport squadron at Warner Robins with the primary mission of moving nuclear weapons between maintenance depots in the US and operational units worldwide.
After retiring from the Air Force in 1988, he worked 4 years for Lockheed Space Operations Company at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida as manager of transportation and being responsible for all government and commercial transportation support required in the preparation, launch, and recovery of Space Shuttle flights.
Shortly after joining Lockheed, he participated in establishing two launch abort sites in Africa for the shuttle's use in case it was unable to reach orbit. The project required the movement of everything from four fire trucks to office equipment and supplies via an ocean-going barge.
Lawrence's mother, Mary Burton, helped establish the Meals on Wheels program in Washington, and he sometimes accompanied her when visiting at home. The week after he left Lockheed, he met a supervisor for the program where he lived in Florida, and she recruited him. He served 3 years there until moving home to Washington, where he volunteered for a weekly route and served faithfully until 2019 when his health made it impossible for him to continue.
He was appointed to the Wilkes County Hospital Authority in 2003 and served as chairman for 15 years. He was proud of the work they did in managing Wills Memorial Hospital and providing first-rate care to Wilkes County citizens at a time when Federal reimbursements declined significantly and county financial support ceased altogether. A highlight of his term was the expansion and revitalization of Wills Memorial Hospital into the modern facility we enjoy today.
Lawrence was a member of the Episcopal Church of the Mediator in Washington.
A service with military honors will be held at Resthaven Cemetery in Washington at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 21, 2023, with interment alongside his parents and brother. The service will be conducted by Reverend Doctor Steven Dodson of Thomson with the assistance of Hopkins Funeral Home. The immediate family will receive friends and family from 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. at Hopkins Funeral Home prior to the service.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Wills Memorial Hospital or to a charity of one's choice.
Mr. Walter Lawrence Burton passed away at home on February 13, 2023 at the age of 83 following an extended illness. Born on January 16, 1940, he was the first of three sons born to W.L. and Mary Burton. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, James Callaway Burton, and also by his paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. W.L. Burton (Effie), and his maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Herman Callaway (Ella) of Tignall. He was part of a family with ties to Wilkes County that began in 1783.
Mr. Burton is survived by his beloved wife of 37 years, Sandra Kish Burton of Washington. He is also survived by a brother, Emory Allen Burton (Patricia) of Washington; a nephew, Allen Bonner Burton (Lindsay) of Gainesville; and a niece, Julie Burton Arora (Vishal) of Evans. Additionally, he is survived by a sister-in-law, Jane B. Burton of Washington; a nephew, James Callaway Burton, Jr. (Nikki) of Cleveland, Tennessee; and a brother-in-law, Paul John Kish (Pamela) of Vero Beach, Florida. A dedicated animal lover, he is also survived by his faithful companions, Nicholas and Katy.
Lawrence grew up and attended schools in Washington and then graduated from the University of Georgia with a B.A. in Journalism and as a Distinguished Graduate of the Air Force ROTC Program. He was also a member of Sigma Delta Chi and the Men's Glee Club. In later years, he earned an M.S. in Education from the University of Southern California.
In 1962 he entered the Air Force where he served for 25 years. He had assignments in New Mexico, Texas, Vietnam, Germany, Alabama, Illinois, Florida, and twice in Georgia. While in Vietnam, he served in a rescue squadron engaged in recovery of U.S. personnel who had been shot down in combat operations. He assisted in the performance of the first emergency air-to-air refueling of an unarmed helicopter by a HC130-P over unfriendly territory.
He spent 1964 in Waco, Texas, in Air Force navigator training. Following that, he was assigned to a transport squadron at Warner Robins with the primary mission of moving nuclear weapons between maintenance depots in the US and operational units worldwide.
After retiring from the Air Force in 1988, he worked 4 years for Lockheed Space Operations Company at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida as manager of transportation and being responsible for all government and commercial transportation support required in the preparation, launch, and recovery of Space Shuttle flights.
Shortly after joining Lockheed, he participated in establishing two launch abort sites in Africa for the shuttle's use in case it was unable to reach orbit. The project required the movement of everything from four fire trucks to office equipment and supplies via an ocean-going barge.
Lawrence's mother, Mary Burton, helped establish the Meals on Wheels program in Washington, and he sometimes accompanied her when visiting at home. The week after he left Lockheed, he met a supervisor for the program where he lived in Florida, and she recruited him. He served 3 years there until moving home to Washington, where he volunteered for a weekly route and served faithfully until 2019 when his health made it impossible for him to continue.
He was appointed to the Wilkes County Hospital Authority in 2003 and served as chairman for 15 years. He was proud of the work they did in managing Wills Memorial Hospital and providing first-rate care to Wilkes County citizens at a time when Federal reimbursements declined significantly and county financial support ceased altogether. A highlight of his term was the expansion and revitalization of Wills Memorial Hospital into the modern facility we enjoy today.
Lawrence was a member of the Episcopal Church of the Mediator in Washington.
A service with military honors will be held at Resthaven Cemetery in Washington at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 21, 2023, with interment alongside his parents and brother. The service will be conducted by Reverend Doctor Steven Dodson of Thomson with the assistance of Hopkins Funeral Home. The immediate family will receive friends and family from 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. at Hopkins Funeral Home prior to the service.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Wills Memorial Hospital or to a charity of one's choice.
Mr. Burton is survived by his beloved wife of 37 years, Sandra Kish Burton of Washington. He is also survived by a brother, Emory Allen Burton (Patricia) of Washington; a nephew, Allen Bonner Burton (Lindsay) of Gainesville; and a niece, Julie Burton Arora (Vishal) of Evans. Additionally, he is survived by a sister-in-law, Jane B. Burton of Washington; a nephew, James Callaway Burton, Jr. (Nikki) of Cleveland, Tennessee; and a brother-in-law, Paul John Kish (Pamela) of Vero Beach, Florida. A dedicated animal lover, he is also survived by his faithful companions, Nicholas and Katy.
Lawrence grew up and attended schools in Washington and then graduated from the University of Georgia with a B.A. in Journalism and as a Distinguished Graduate of the Air Force ROTC Program. He was also a member of Sigma Delta Chi and the Men's Glee Club. In later years, he earned an M.S. in Education from the University of Southern California.
In 1962 he entered the Air Force where he served for 25 years. He had assignments in New Mexico, Texas, Vietnam, Germany, Alabama, Illinois, Florida, and twice in Georgia. While in Vietnam, he served in a rescue squadron engaged in recovery of U.S. personnel who had been shot down in combat operations. He assisted in the performance of the first emergency air-to-air refueling of an unarmed helicopter by a HC130-P over unfriendly territory.
He spent 1964 in Waco, Texas, in Air Force navigator training. Following that, he was assigned to a transport squadron at Warner Robins with the primary mission of moving nuclear weapons between maintenance depots in the US and operational units worldwide.
After retiring from the Air Force in 1988, he worked 4 years for Lockheed Space Operations Company at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida as manager of transportation and being responsible for all government and commercial transportation support required in the preparation, launch, and recovery of Space Shuttle flights.
Shortly after joining Lockheed, he participated in establishing two launch abort sites in Africa for the shuttle's use in case it was unable to reach orbit. The project required the movement of everything from four fire trucks to office equipment and supplies via an ocean-going barge.
Lawrence's mother, Mary Burton, helped establish the Meals on Wheels program in Washington, and he sometimes accompanied her when visiting at home. The week after he left Lockheed, he met a supervisor for the program where he lived in Florida, and she recruited him. He served 3 years there until moving home to Washington, where he volunteered for a weekly route and served faithfully until 2019 when his health made it impossible for him to continue.
He was appointed to the Wilkes County Hospital Authority in 2003 and served as chairman for 15 years. He was proud of the work they did in managing Wills Memorial Hospital and providing first-rate care to Wilkes County citizens at a time when Federal reimbursements declined significantly and county financial support ceased altogether. A highlight of his term was the expansion and revitalization of Wills Memorial Hospital into the modern facility we enjoy today.
Lawrence was a member of the Episcopal Church of the Mediator in Washington.
A service with military honors will be held at Resthaven Cemetery in Washington at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 21, 2023, with interment alongside his parents and brother. The service will be conducted by Reverend Doctor Steven Dodson of Thomson with the assistance of Hopkins Funeral Home. The immediate family will receive friends and family from 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. at Hopkins Funeral Home prior to the service.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Wills Memorial Hospital or to a charity of one's choice.
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