Barbara Jean Burton

March 24, 1934 – August 6, 2021

Barbara J Burton, 87, of Lincoln, left us on August 6, 2021 to join her parents in heaven. Barb was born on March 24, 1934, in Rathbun, IA to Ed and Grace Simmons. She married Richard Burton in August of 1953 and was the proud mother of four children, Marcia Holder, Lincoln, Nebraska, Doug (Julie) Burton, Hallam, Nebraska, Julie Burton, Newcastle, Oklahoma and David (Roxi) Burton, Lincoln, Nebraska.

She is also survived by her sister, Margaret Ogden, Lincoln, Nebraska, Uncle Phillip Harbour, Sun City Center, Florida, her five granddaughters Marci Athey-Graham, Lincoln, Nebraska, Brittney Bridger-Burton, Lexington, Kentucky, Diondra Burton-King, Newcastle, Oklahoma, Alex Burton, Lincoln, Nebraska, Nicole (Tyren) Baker, Lincoln, Nebraska, great-grandchildren, Jalen Athey, Lincoln, Nebraska, Rashawn Graham, Lincoln, Nebraska, Zaida Athey-Graham, Lincoln, Nebraska, Atlas Swepston, Lincoln, Nebraska, Lyrah Baker, Lincoln, Nebraska, Nariah Baker, Lincoln, Nebraska, and great-great-granddaughter, Yuliana Athey, Lincoln, Nebraska, and nieces and nephews.

Barb grew up in Rathbun, Iowa, and attended Rathbun Public Schools through 8th grade. Ed and Grace moved to Des Moines, Iowa in the summer before she entered 9th grade. She held various jobs through 9th and 10th grade as she attended Norman Wiles Jr. Academy, where her mother taught.

In 11th grade, she went to Oak Park Academy in Nevada, Iowa and graduated in 1951. In the fall of that year, she went to Union College here in Lincoln, Nebraska. She studied 2 years of secretarial training, sang in the Golden Cords Chorale and traveled on a 10-day bus choir tour in Midwestern States.

While at Union College, she met Richard Burton, and they were married in August of 1953. As the children were growing up, Barb and Dick owned and operated Burton’s Flowers & Gifts for 14 years.

After selling the flower shop, Barb worked on the Union College Campus at College View Printers, then Peanut Hill Market as the Manager, and then purchased the business. She renamed it Village Market, which she owned for several years. In April of 1991, she accepted a temporary position with the University of Nebraska Landscape Services. She was thrilled to be back working with flowers, and knew immediately this is what she was meant to do. In March of 1992, at the age of 58, she started her own landscaping business, “Barb Burton, Professional Gardening with a Personal Touch”. Each year she continued to gain new clients, and spent every waking hour in her client’s gardens, and then her own. And when it was too dark to be outside, she went inside and spent the rest of her time sewing. Nearly all of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren worked with her at some point. Each year she talked about cutting back, but continued to accept new accounts and did beautiful landscaping work for approximately 25 accounts for a little over 20 years.

Another passion of Barb’s was the Bags of Love project, which she began with Lucile Schwarck in March of 2006. “It’s My Very Own” Bag of Love, was a project that provided a bag with essentials for children who were removed from their home by Child Protective Services. The first delivery was for 30 bags, age and gender appropriate, containing a quilt, small pillow, toys, and personal care items. The bags, quilts and pillows were hand sewn by volunteers. Barb spent countless hours recruiting volunteers to help sew, gather needed items, visiting stores to ask for donations, and assembling the bags. By January 2008, the project had delivered 261 bags and expanded to 6 surrounding smaller towns. In early December, 2011, they delivered 60 bags to the People’s City Mission, 150 bags to the KVC Conference in Omaha, and 125 small duffel backpack bags for a Build a Bear project. Barb spent nearly 10 years leading the project and received the Governor’s Points of Light Award for her service to the children of Nebraska.

Barb was the rock of the family. Her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren were always number one in her heart. A new great-great-granddaughter joined the family in the last few months, which made 5 generations in the family. Family has always been important to her, and as the family grew, each new member immediately felt her warmth and acceptance. This is what made her the most lovable Mom, Grandma, Great-Grandma and Great-Great-Grandma.

Let’s celebrate the life of the woman who guided her family through the bad times, celebrated the good times, and always brought her truck to the auction when we bought a bunch of stuff we really didn’t need. She always continued to see the best in us even when we fell short. She has truly been an inspiration to us all in finding our way in the world.

A memorial service for Barbara will be held Friday, August 13, 2021 at 2:00 PM at College View Seventh Day Adventist Church Heartland Hall. 4801 Prescott Ave, Lincoln, NE. A Reception will follow at Church.