William H. " Bill" Burton

William H. “Bill” Burton, 95, passed away on July 18, 2021 at Friendsview Retirement Community where he had lived for the past eight years. Bill was born on October 23, 1925 to Hawley and Hilda (Fairbairn) Burton in Bennington, Vermont, and lived in North Bennington until the age of 17. After graduating from North Bennington High School in 1943, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and served in Command South Pacific, stationed in New Caledonia. After the death of his mother when he was 13 years old, Bill’s father remarried and relocated to Oregon during Bill’s military service. When Bill was honorably discharged in 1946, he joined his father and step-mother there. Bill attended the University of Oregon and earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Business in 1950. His professional career was in insurance. He began as a claims adjuster, later became a regional manager, and then purchased an insurance agency. In 1969 he and his partner Dan Bertuleit founded Insurance Associates in Tigard, where he worked until his retirement. His faith and church were important to Bill and with his strong tenor voice, he was always involved in church music, singing in the choir or singing solos or duets. He also provided leadership and participated in various administrative roles within the church. Bill was an active member of Tigard Rotary for over 50 years and received their perfect attendance award in 2011-2012. Bill was a people person who loved his family, his friends, a good laugh and always made sure his family was taken care of. Bill and his wife Audrey were married on June 16, 1947 and were married for over 70 years, raising three daughters. Bill was an avid golfer, playing as often as he could and even having the bragging rights to a hole-in-one. He enjoyed watching a good baseball, football, or basketball game and loved to reminisce about playing baseball on a town team and his high school baseball team. Bill was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Audrey and half-brother Wallace. He is survived by his sister Lorraine Byers of Springfield, daughters Pam Peterson (Russ) of Kirkland, Washington, Candy Johnson (Merrill) of Newberg, Oregon, and Valynn Smith (Mark) of Mukilteo, Washington, as well as seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 7, 2021, at 11 a.m. at Newberg Friends Church, 307 S. College, Newberg, OR 97132. Memorial contributions may be made to Friendsview Retirement Community, Residence Assistance Fund, 1301 Fulton Street, Newberg, OR 97132. Arrangements by Attrell’s Funeral Chapels.

William H. " Bill" Burton

October 23, 1925 - July 18, 2021