Gene H. Burton, 91, of Browning died at 5:03 p.m. April 8, 2019, at the Rushville Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Rushville.Gene H. Burton, 91, of Browning died at 5:03 p.m. April 8, 2019, at the Rushville Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Rushville.
He was born Oct. 11, 1927, at the family home in Browning, a son of Arlie H. and Mabel E. Hoyt Burton. He married Barbara J. Galloway on Feb. 15, 1948, in Mount Sterling. She preceded him in death on Jan. 2, 1996.
He also was preceded in death by one infant daughter; one grandson, Samuel Taylor; and one sister, Virginia Combs.
Surviving are three sons, Charles (and Sheila) Burton of Rushville, Paul (and Kathy) Burton of Browning and Jeff (and Zoie) Burton of Hannibal, Mo.; one brother, Richard (and Nadine) Burton of Cary, N.C.; seven grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and close friend, Lois Henninger of Rushville.
He was a 1945 graduate of Rushville High School and attended Western Illinois Teachers College. For one year, he taught at the Hawkeye School in Browning Township, Schuyler County. He was a lifelong livestock and grain farmer in the Browning area. He also was a rural mail carrier in Browning.
He was a member of Central Christian Church in Browning, where he served as elder and deacon. He was a 70-year member of the Odd Fellows. He also served on the board of the Schuyler School District, Schuyler-Brown Farmer’s Service, Spoon River Electric Co-Operative, Western Illinois Power Co-Operative, Culbertson Memorial Hospital Board, Schuyler County Farm Bureau, Browning Fire Protection District and the Browning Senior Citizens Center. He was a 4-H leader for the Mud Valley Luckies and a longtime coach of the Browning third- and fourth-grade basketball team.
He earned third place in the State of Illinois Outstanding Young Farmer in 1957 and was awarded the Patron of Agriculture Award by the Schuyler Ag Day Committee.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at his church in Browning with Pastors Isaac Bell and Greg Parker officiating. Burial will follow in the Browning Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. Friday at the Wood Funeral Home in Rushville.
Memorials may be made to his church.
Condolences may be sent to www.woodfh.net.
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