Delano Erman Burton, 75, of Sod passed away from primary liver cancer, Tuesday, February 9, 2010.
Delano was born on January 15, 1935 and attended Duval High School. He worked at Union Carbide for 10 years before buying and operating Burton’s Exxon in Alum Creek. He later built another Exxon station and a convenience mart called the “B Mart” in Alum Creek which he operated until he retired in 1987.
He was a former member of Cobbs Creek Missionary Baptist Church in Sod, where he and his father helped to construct the church, and served as Sunday School Superintendent and a Sunday School teacher. In more recent years, he attended church services at Independent Missionary Baptist Church of Alum Creek.
He will be remembered for so many wonderful qualities including his endless generosity in raising a large garden and happily giving most of it away to friends and neighbors; for his kindness towards animals; for lovingly tending to his bees; for his laughter, big smile and funny sense of humor; for his rare combination of strength and tenderheartedness; and for the devotion and love with which he showered his family and friends.
Delano was preceded in death by his mother Shellie Linville Burton Hill; his father William Erman Burton; and two sisters Betty Jo Dunlap and Pauline Hinton.
Delano is survived by his wife of 55 years, Sally Kingrey Burton; two daughters — Dr. Lisa Burton and her husband Whitney Westphal of Alum Creek; Lura Burton of Los Angeles, California and special family friend Shelly Bunge of Los Angeles; one grandchild Jade Sites and one step-grandchild Anna Westphal.
The Funeral Service will be held at 2 PM., Saturday, February 13, 2010, at Curry Funeral Home 2097 Childress Road, Alum Creek, with Pastor Frank Chapman and Minister Kenneth Mitchell officiating. Friends may call at the funeral home from 12 PM. until the time of service. Burial will be immediately thereafter at Orchard Hills Memory Gardens in Sumerco.
The family would like to extend their deep gratitude and appreciation to all of their friends for their prayers, visits, phone calls, cards, and food which were such a gift during this difficult time. Additionally, a heartfelt thank you to the doctors, nurses and caregivers associated with the Hubbard Hospice House in Charleston for their compassionate care and comfort in these last days.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Independent Missionary Baptist Church, P.O. Box 65, Alum Creek, West Virginia 25003.