Claude Eugene Burton

HE JOINED THE UNITED STATES ARMY IN JANUARY 1956 AT THE AGE OF 16 AND SERVED FOR MORE THAN 14 YEARS UNTIL HIS RETIREMENT. HE SERVED DURING THE VIETNAM WAR AND WAS INJURED DURING HIS SERVICE. DURING HIS TIME IN THE ARMY, HE WAS DECORATED WITH THE BRONZE STAR METAL WITH V DEVICE, BRONZE STAR MEDAL WITH 3 OAK LEAF CLUSTERS, PURPLE HEART, SILVER STAR AIR MEDAL, ARMY COMMENDATION MEDAL, VIETNAM SERVICE MEDAL, VIETNAM CAMPAIGN MEDAL, NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL WITH OAK LEAF CLUSTER AND WAS EDUCATED IN THE USA ARMOR CENTER FT. KNOX, KENTUCKY. COMPLETED M132 MECHANIZED FLAME THROWER AND M4A2 SERVICE UNIT COURSE; ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, MARYLAND AND OPER, SK-5 ACV COURSE; ALSO RECEIVING THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL 3RD AWARD, COMBAT INFANTRY BADGE EXPERT (RIFLE) BADGE, SHARPSHOOTER BADGE (RIFLE M-14) AND THE PATHFINDER BADGE.

AFTER HIS RETIREMENT AND SERVICE TO HIS COUNTRY, HE ENJOYED SINGING WITH HIS GROUP, THE ANOINTED SOUNDS OF JOY, AND IN THE CHURCH CHOIR AT LOGOS BAPTIST CHURCH, TALKING TO HIS NEIGHBORS AND BEING WITH HIS FAMILY. IN HIS YOUNGER YEARS, HE WAS BAPTIZED IN THE MT. ZION BAPTIST CHURCH IN SMYRNA, GEORGIA THAT WAS FOUNDED

BY HIS GRANDFATHER REVEREND HENRY DAVENPORT, SR.

HE IS SURVIVED BY HIS LOVING, DEVOTED WIFE OF OVER 61 YEARS, DOLLIE BURTON; SON, ANTHONY BURTON AND WIFE, NICOLE PALMER; DAUGHTER, SHARI NICOLE BURTON; AND DAUGHTER, DR. STEPHANIE RACHEL BULGER AND HUSBAND, GLENN OLIVER; GRANDCHILDREN, BRITTANY GIBSON AND HUSBAND, IAN; BRYCE BURTON, BRYANT BURTON, GRIFFIN BURTON AND DEVYN BURTON; 1 GREAT-GRANDCHILD, SCOUT GIBSON AND ONE ON THE WAY; BROTHER,

LOUIS (BUTCH) BURTON AND WIFE, GAIL; SISTERS, BETTY HAMMON, LORETTA BURTON, AND BERNICE BURTON ALONG WITH MANY NIECES, NEPHEW, AND OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS. HE IS PRECEDED IN DEATH BY HIS PARENTS, JOHN HENRY AND MISSOURI BURTON, BROTHERS, THEODORE BURTON, AND LAMAR BURTON AND SISTER, GLADYS BURTON.