Donald Burton

Donald Burton, also known as Duck to friends and family, made his entry into the world February 20, 1942 in Joliet, IL to Beverly Benjamin Burton and Lottie Wee Burton (nee Bates) at Saint Joseph Hospital, at a time when many Black people were born at home during WWII.  

As a child, he attended several grade schools and had the chance to make a lot of lifelong acquaintances. As a teen, he attended Joliet Township High School but became interested in working and started working with his uncle on his garbage truck. Later, proudly he earned his GED together with the love of his life, Ruby Burton (nee Bennett) and were married; to this union three children were born. 

Donald was an exemplar of manhood- as a son of God, husband, father, son, brother, uncle, cousin and friend. Family meant everything to him.  Instilling in his children a love for God, He was baptized in his 40’s and loved and studied God’s word daily after hearing the message of grace ardently listening to Christian radio and TV. Donald recounted how he heard the voice of The Lord telling him in the shower, faith plus nothing equals salvation after struggling with the you’ve got to live right gospel.  The message of grace was what he believed and shared with any who would listen especially his coworkers who called him preacher.  They would often hop from foot to foot when they saw him because he told them they were going to a very hot place for rejecting Jesus Christ simple plan of salvation. Later some of his other coworkers would approach him and say they may poke fun but they are listening.  Keep on telling them.

Instilling in his children excellent work ethics being employed at GAF for 22 years and as a Labor Local 75 member for over fifteen years.  Instilling in his children the importance for education by he and his wife paying for private schools and paying for their college and earning his GED.

Donald will be remembered for his kind heart , helping hand of taking care of his elderly parents, showering his wife with roses and candy on holidays,  enjoying traveling on vacations with his family, gardening with his wife extensively, taking his sons hunting and fishing with his brother and cousins, riding his motor cycle, nice cars, barbecuing, picnicking with the family and a very gifted hand and mind of automotive mechanics, sharp dressing, always  putting colors together well,  great cook,  cooking for his children while mom worked afternoons, playing baseball with his children and  nephews, buying top of the line Schwinn bicycles for his children,  attending school events and encouraging his children to excel, being generous and willing to lend a helping hand to anyone, always kind and respectful.

He was preceded in death by his father, Beverly Benjamin Burton; his mother, Lottie Wee Burton (nee Bates); his brother, Claude (Betty) Burton; sister, Joyce Holmes Burton, and nephew, Myran Edwards.

He passed away on Tuesday, September 3, 2024 at Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox, Illinois.

He leaves to cherish in loving memory his wife of 61 years, Ruby Burton; sons, Dion Burton, Darell (Lisa) Burton; daughter, Donna Burton; grandson, Dalen and great grandson Ezra; brother-in-law, Harvey (Myrdes) Bennett; sisters-in-law, Virgie April, Zola (Clifford-deceased) Hamilton, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and cousins in-law and friends; special cousin, Carlton Bates and Leon Thompson.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Donald Burton, please visit our floral store.