Reverend William “Bill” Burton
Reverend William “Bill” H. Burton transitioned peacefully to his heavenly home on Friday, August 22, 2025 at the age of 82. He was born January 16, 1943, in Villa Grove, IL to Reverend Raymond B. Burton and Aline Coffin Burton. He married the love of his life, Carolyn (Carli) Crumpler Burton on April 4, 1966, and she survives.
Also surviving are two sons, Gregory (Sheila) Burton of Crawfordsville, IN and Grant (Diana) Burton of Dunlap, IL; one daughter Gretta (Brent) Nash of Washington, IL; nine grandchildren, Kyra, Austin Kelsie, Devon, Kasey, Hannah, Delaney, Grayson, Kenadie; eight great grandchildren, one brother Leo Burton of Joelton, TN, and one sister, Virginia (Lin) Merritt of Decatur, IL; as well as several nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Bill and his family moved from Urbana, IL to Lincoln, IL, when he was in high school. There he met his beloved wife, Carli, and they married in 1966. Bill attended barber college in Springfield, IL. He moved his wife and young son to Urbana, IL where he eventually had two barber shops and five barbers working for him. As a couple, they were active in ministry at Faith Church of the Nazarene, Urbana, IL, making lifelong friends while there.
Bill answered the call to prepare to preach in 1973. He graduated from Nazarene Bible College in Colorado Springs, CO, Olivet Nazarene University in Kankakee, IL and attended Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis, IN. God allowed him time to look back on his life with many fond, loving and sometimes funny memories of his family and all the wonderful people, now friends, in the churches he served, as well as those he met along the way.
He pastored at the Olivet Church of the Nazarene, Olivet, IL, home of the original Olivet Nazarene College. His 2nd pastorate was Southside Church of the Nazarene in Tilton, IL. From there, Bill and his family moved to Bradford, IL, and pastored at the Leet and Boyd’s Grove United Methodist Churches. The next pastorate was Jerome and Asbury United Methodist Churches in Springfield, IL. For a duration, he also pastored at Grace and Kumler United Methodist Churches in Springfield. In retirement, he continued to pastor Asbury until full retirement in December of 2022. He will be dearly missed by family and friends.
Visitation: 10:00 am – 11:30 am Friday August 29, 2025, at Staab Funeral Home – Springfield
Funeral Service: 11:30 am Friday August 29, 2025, at Staab Funeral Home – Springfield with Pastor Gretta Nash officiating.
Graveside: 11:00 am Saturday, August 30, 2025, at Richmond Grove Cemetery in New Holland, IL
Memorial contributions may be made to Carolyn Burton, to assist with funeral expenses, in care of Clocktower Community Bank.
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