Ethel Lavon Burge

Ethel Lavon (Wandling) Burge, 88, a longtime resident of Gladstone, Missouri, was gently called into the arms of the Lord on February 1, 2021, with loved ones at her side.

Ethel was born August 23, 1932, in Titonka, Iowa, one of seven children of Charles Edward and Elva Edna (Krull) Wandling. In the fall of 1936, the family moved to Buffalo, Missouri and in 1950, she graduated from Buffalo High School. After her father died in 1952, she and her sister, Shirley, moved to Kansas City, Missouri to start their careers. She worked for Sears and Roebuck in billing and collections for many years. She also worked for United Telephone in credit and collections. The job she was most proud of was being a wife and mother to her 2 children and a grandmother to her 2 grandkids. She was united in marriage to Hubert Keith Burge on August 6, 1960, in Kansas City, Missouri. Keith preceded Ethel in death on February 14, 2006 after 45 years of marriage.

Ethel loved to go and relax with family at the Lake of the Ozarks. Ethel was a great cook, her specialty was homemade noodles. She also loved to play card games, computer games, dominos, and word search puzzles. Her favorite game was SkipBo and she will be remembered as the most legendary SkipBo player to ever live.

Along with her parents and husband, Ethel was preceded in death by her six siblings, Norman, Mildred, Mable, Alice, Wanda and Shirley. Survivors include her two children, Ed Burge (Loren) and Carla McNamee (Michael); two grandchildren, Desmond McNamee and Teagan McNamee; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, other family members and friends.

She is remembered as a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. Her courage, strength, resilience, faith, kindness, and heart have always been a source of her family's inspiration. Our beacon of light.

Her body could not keep up with her heart which fought on until the end. She is celebrating her new body with no pain and she has left her strength to her loved ones to carry forth. The world will never be the same and we miss her already but we know she is indeed one of God’s very best! Her work on Earth is done and we have no doubt that she is a beautiful angel and has been welcomed into God’s arms with a loving “Well done, good and faithful servant, welcome home!”

Visitation will be February 24, 2021, from 6pm-8pm at McGilley Antioch Funeral Home, 3325 NE Vivion Rd, Kansas City, MO in Kansas City North followed by a funeral service on February 25, 2021, at 11am. Graveside services will immediately follow the funeral at Newcomers White Chapel.

If so desired, in lieu of flowers, the family is asking that donations be made to the Paralyzed Veterans of America.