Phillip BURTON

The Life of Phillip Roy Burton 1912 – 2004Phillip Roy Burton was born in Chicago, IL; on February 22, 1912 to Elsie M. Kolhler and Alfred A. Burton. Phillip learned very early in life the cold facts of earning a living. He helped support his mother and himself by selling seeds door to door when he was only 8 years of age. The seeds were one penny a package. Although Phillip only completed the 8th, grade, he was self taught and a self made man. He loved reading biographies as well as best sellers – in addition to reading the paper cover to cover every day. When Phillip’s mother died, he became an orphan at the tender age of 10, leaving his home to live with foster people. By the time Phillip turned 13 years of age, he was living on his own and was self supporting. During this period of his life, Phillip relied on The Salvation Army and he was forever grateful for their humanity. Some of the jobs Phillip did to support himself during these difficult years were; dishwasher, door to door sales – whatever it took to put food in his mouth and a roof over his head. There are facts of his life during this time that only Phillip knows and chose not to burden his family with the details. We only wish we could have eased his burden during this time in his life, but we came later.At the age of 24, Phillip had a route selling Jewel Tea products in Springfield, OH. One of his customers was Rubye Schaeffer. Rubye decided to become a match maker and introduced Phillip to her sister, Naomi Hicks. Naomi was selling tickets at the local movie theater – she loved movies! Well, Phillip fell madly in love with Naomi and they were married on July 15, 1936. Two years later, on December 29, 1938 Patricia Gail was born. Four years after that on December 17, 1942 Phillip Junior came into their lives. Phillip and his family eventually found their way to Detroit, MI; where Phillip worked in several factories. A highlight in Phillip’s career was his employment for Campbell’s Soup Co. for 23 years. In 1956 Campbell’s promoted Phillip and he moved his family to Whittier, California. Phillip worked at Campbell’s until his retirement. He didn’t retire, exactly – Phillip went on to work at odd jobs until he and Naomi really retired to Escondido, CA; in 1986, the year and month of their 50th Wedding Anniversary.By this time, Patricia and Phillip Jr. had families of their own. Patricia had married William R. Scheel and had a son Kenneth W. and a daughter Carole L. Phillip Jr., was married to Patty L. Bryan and has a daughter, Shelly K. and a son Steven M. The grandchildren are also now married with families of their own. Carole Scheel married Troy Jackson and has a son Christopher R. Jackson and a daughter, Cassie G. Jackson. Kenneth Scheel is married to Sherri – they have a son Travis R. and a daughter Emily R. Shelly Burton married Scott Dowdle and has a son, Bryan. Steve Burton lives in San Francisco.Naomi Burton passed away in the year of 2002, on July 18th, 3 days after she and Phillip celebrated their 66th, year of marriage together, and two weeks after having her 86th, birthday on July 5th. By this time, Phillip was absolutely and totally blind and unable to live alone and came to live with his daughter, Pat and her husband Bill, in Lake Havasu City, AZ. Phillip escaped the heat of the desert visiting several months in Great Falls, MT with Phillip Jr. and wife Patty.Arrangements were entrusted to Lietz-Fraze Funeral Home and Crematory.

Phillip BURTON

March 5, 2004