Boyd Burton

BLOOMFIELD:  Boyd F. Burton, 89, of Bloomfield, Iowa died December 16, 2009 at the Bloomfield Care Center.  He was born August 19, 1920 in Bloomfield, Iowa to Orgie Otis and Vinnie Francis Burton.  He married Joy V. Hunter February 21, 1942 in Kirksville, Missouri.  He joined the Army July 10, 1942 in Fort Des Moines, Iowa.  He was in the 10th Mountain Division (126th engineering battalion) and served in the Aleutian Islands and in Italy.  On October 19, 1945 in Camp Carson, Colorado, now a sergeant, he was given an honorable discharge having spent 11months and 18 days in Foreign Service.  He was a farmer and a salesman for Pioneer Seed Corn and Pioneer Bulls.  He also sheered sheep for several years.  He was an avid quail hunter and trained several bird dogs.  Boyd was known for the yearly cattle drive from his grandfather’s farm near Savannah, Iowa to his farm east of Stiles, Iowa.  He sold his last cows in October 2008. He organized trail rides from the farm to the “24”.  He was a member of the Reed Whisler Post #78 of the American Legion of Bloomfield, and also the VFW in Memphis, Missouri.   

He is survived by his wife; 2 sons, Dan (Earlene) Burton, Steve (Joyce) Burton, both of Bloomfield; 5 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; a sister, Helen Plotz of St. Petersburg, Florida; and a brother, Leo Burton of Fountain Hills, Arizona.

He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Diana Sue; a granddaughter, Stephanie; 2 sisters, Nedra Utt, Ruth Statton; and 5 brothers, Derward, Wendell, Harold, Rex, and Dean Burton.

Graveside services will be at 2pm on Sunday, December 20, 2009 at the IOOF Cemetery in Bloomfield with Kramer Smith officiating.  Burial of the cremains with military rites performed by Reed Whisler Post #78 will follow the service.  Visitation will begin after 9am on Saturday with the family present to greet friends from 6-9pm at the Wagler Funeral Home in Bloomfield.  A memorial has been established.