Willard M. "Bill" Burton, Sr.

Willard M. “Bill” Burton, Sr., 80, of Orange, Texas, passed away on January 16, 2017, in Orange.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Thursday, January 19, 2017, at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange. Officiating will be Father Sinclair Oubre, of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Orange. Entombment will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens Mausoleum.

Visitation will be prior to the service beginning at 11:00 a.m. at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange.

Born in Orange, Texas, on August 26, 1936, he was the son of Willard and Lucia Burton. Bill honorably served his country in the United States Army and worked as an operator at Firestone for 36 years. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge in Orange and the Knights of Columbus. Bill loved the outdoors and enjoyed spending time fishing, shrimping, deer hunting, squirrel hunting, camping, and working on cars. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and his grandson, Brandon Burton.

Bill is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Joyce Burton; children, Mike Burton and wife Debbie, of Bridge City, Ronnie Burton and wife Meshia, of Orange, Lisa Bourque and husband Kim, of Bridge City, and Troy Burton and wife Bobbie, of Orangefield; grandchildren, Damon Burton, Neil Burton, Grace Bourque, Brandon Bourque, David Burton, Roeh Burton, Dylan Burton, Tanlee Hughes, Peyton Walker, and Stevie Long; 6 great-grandchildren; siblings, Lyndia Permenter and husband TW, Wynie Burton, and Hal Burton and wife Donna; along with numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.