Philip Burton

Philip L. Burton was born to Gordon Lester and Ruth Ives (Stevens) Burton on April 26, 1929 in New Haven, Connecticut. Gordon supported the family as a milkman and mechanic while Ruth cared for their four children at home: twins Lester and Velma, Claire and Philip. Phil was an active child, involved in Boy Scouting, camping and enjoying the out-of-doors. When he was 15 years old, the family moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan, and he continued to explore his interests.

It was his curiosity with cars and radios that eventually turned Philip’s hobbies into lifetime pursuits. As a youth, he was constantly tinkering with cars and dabbling in amateur radio, so it was little wonder that he chose the professions he did. Though he took several classes at Grand Rapids School of Bible and Music, Phil turned to auto mechanics as a career and eventually developed his own radio communication as a hobby. When he took a job with Jack Keller Ford dealership, he worked there as a mechanic until his retirement, and when he established his own radio station (call letters: K8EGU), he maintained it for life.

Life was made all the more full when Philip fell in love and married Gladys Bowman on May 16, 1951. The couple first lived in an apartment on Kalamazoo Avenue before building a house on Hall Street NW, where Philip would spend long hours tending his garden. It truly became a home when their two children (James and Kristine) were born and activities revolved around family and faith. The Burtons regularly went camping together and even spent entire summers in a tent at Muskegon State Park while Phil commuted to work. They attended Standale Baptist Church from its beginning and put their gifts to meaningful use. Philip sang in Standale’s church choir as well as with the choir of Grace Bible Church. He kept the church bus running and opened the lines of communication for their missionaries. Every Sunday for years, Phil patched missionaries living abroad to their families in the United States. It was a service he performed but also a pastime that had its own rewards. He once spoke to US senator and one-time presidential candidate (1964) Berry Goldwater. Philip earned his high school diploma (GED) later in life as an adult.

When Philip’s beloved wife Gladys died on May 5, 2011, Philip was at a loss. Yet his strong faith and loving family sustained him. With his own health diminishing in recent years, he went to live at Tender Care facility. After developing kidney failure, he moved to Vista Springs Assisted Living. Philip was placed under hospice care on Friday, June 20th and died Thursday, June 26, 2014 at 12:45 AM.

Philip was a devoted husband, loving father, caring brother and dedicated Christian. With a willing spirit and servant’s heart, he worked for the good of others. Faith-filled, kind and gentle, Philip will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.

Mr. Philip L. Burton, aged 85 of Grand Rapids, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Thursday morning, June 26, 2014. He was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Gladys Burton; he is survived by his children, Dr. James and Janice Burton, Kristine Dipple; his grandchildren, Jonathan (Amber) Burton, Jeffery (Erin) Burton, Bradley Schab, David Dipple; his sister, Claire Snell; many nieces, nephews and friends. He was a longtime member of Standale Baptist Church, 3714 Lake Michigan Dr. NW, where the service to celebrate Philip’s life will be held on Sunday, June 29 at 3:00 PM. Burial in Rosedale Cemetery. Friends and relatives may meet his family on Saturday from 5:00 – 7:00 PM at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home – 2120 Lake Michigan Dr. NW and at church on Sunday from 2:00 -3:00 PM. To read more about Philip’s life, to leave your own memory of him and to sign his guest book, visit his web page at www.lifestorynet.com