Funeral services for Clarence Burton, 92, Greenville, Mississippi, formerly of West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, November 12, 2019 at United Freewill Baptist Church, under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.
Mr. Burton passed away at 10:30 p.m., Thursday, November 7, 2019 at Washington Care Center, Greenville, Mississippi.
He was born November 23, 1926, at Paragould, Arkansas, to Clarence Hall Burton and Maude Smith Burton. On March 4, 1950, he was married at Myrtle, Missouri, to Wilma Vivian Wisehart, who preceded him in death on August 21, 2011. He and Vivian were blessed with two sons, Steve and John. Mr. Burton graduated from Oak Grove High School, Paragould, Arkansas in 1944. Reverend Burton served on various state boards in the Arkansas and Missouri State Associations. He served as moderator of the Missouri State Association from 1970-1973. He served on the National Board of Sunday School and Church Training for four years and served twelve years on the Trustee Board, Free Will Baptist Bible College. Reverend Burton served as pastor of the Ballew’s Chapel Church Grubbs, Arkansas from 1955 – 1960; he accepted the pastorate of the First Church in Fredericktown, Missouri in 1960 and was there until October 1963, when he began his work as pastor of the First Church in Berkeley, Missouri. He served the Berkeley Church twelve years and in July, 1975 accepted the position of Executive Secretary for the Missouri State Association and filled this position for seventeen years, resigning this work in July 1992 and semi-retired. He also served as Assistant pastor at United Freewill Baptist Church, West Plains from May 1997 until September 2011. Clarence served his country faithfully in the military. First, he served with the 11th Airborne, as a part of the Occupational Forces in Japan. At the completion of that tour of duty he was honorably discharged. Later, he joined the Air Force Reserve and during the Korean War was recalled to active duty to serve with the 3310th Technical Training Wing of the 5th Air Force. At the end of this tour of duty he was honorably discharged.
He is survived by two sons, Steve Burton and wife, Vickie, Greenville, Mississippi and John Burton and wife, Dianne, Imperial, Missouri; four grandchildren, Chad Burton and wife, Angie, Joshua Burton and wife, Jessica, Justin Burton and Ally Kandlbinder; five great-grandchildren and one on the way, Caleb, Destiny, Callie, Micah and Viviyan; one sister, Doris Rodgers; and several nieces and nephews.
His parents, wife, one granddaughter, Amy Nicole Burton, one brother, Hayes Burton and three sisters, Mildred, Sheryl and Caroline, preceded him in death.
Visitation will be held from 9:00 until 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, at United Freewill Baptist Church. Burial will be in the Myrtle Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Disabled American Veterans and may be left at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home. Online condolences may be expressed at www.robertsondrago.com.
