Irvin E. Burton, 87, passed away on Sunday morning, Nov. 9, at his home in Great Bend. Born on July 29, 1927, in rural Hoisington, he was the son of Walter and Myrtle (Bradshaw) Burton. On Sept. 24, 1988 he was united in marriage to Betty Jo Byerly in Great Bend. Irvin was a route salesman for Dr. Pepper, Schlitz Beer, and Guy’s Potato Chips for many years until his retirement, and worked several part-time jobs after he retired. He enjoyed fishing, gardening, antique John Deere tractors, and he dearly loved his dog, Molly.
Mr. Burton was a United States Army veteran. He was a member of American Legion Post #180 and a life member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #3111, both of Great Bend, and a longtime member of the First United Methodist Church in Great Bend.             
Survivors include his wife, Betty Jo Burton of Great Bend; two sons, Kevin and his wife, Annette Burton and Kelly and his wife, Colleen Burton, both of Great Bend; two stepsons, Galen C. Lloyd and Richard K. Lloyd, both of Great Bend; two daughters, Kathy and her husband, Allen Petz of Hutchinson, and Debra Ficken of La Crosse; four step-daughters, Cathy Apeland and her husband, Arne of Denton, Texas, Lawanda Ritchie of Fort Worth, Texas, Penny Murray and her husband, Kerry of Great Bend, and Pamela Hibbs and her husband, Johnnie of Burkburnett, Texas; 21 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; and one sister, Lois Wright of Topeka. He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Carolina R. Burton, on Feb. 7, 1986; and his twin brother Ivan Burton.
Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, at First United Methodist Church in Great Bend, with the Rev. Don Paden officiating.  Inurnment will follow at the Great Bend City Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the Veteran’s Honor Flight Program. Online condolences may be left and a complete obituary notice may be viewed at http://www.charterfunerals.com/obituary/chgb.

Funeral arrangements provided by
Charter Funerals*
2115 Washington St.
Great Bend, KS  67530
Great Bend (Kan) Tribune, Nov. 11, 2014