Obituary of Douglas Allan Burton

Burton, Douglas (Doug) -  passed away peacefully on Wednesday March 20, 2024, at the United Mennonite Home in Vineland, Onatario.

Doug was born on November 25, 1929, in Campden, Ontario, and attended Beamsville High School, where he focused on the Commercial Program. Though his heart always remained in the Beamsville area, his strong sense of duty and service called him to leave his home town and enlist in the Canadian Armed Forces. He began his basic training in Aylmer in 1950 and rose up through the ranks, earning a promotion to Corporal in 1955 and an officer's commission in 1967. By the time he retired in 1984, Doug had achieved the rank of Major. His military career saw him posted to locations across Canada and Europe, including a brief stint in Egypt as part of the first U.N. Peacekeeping mission during the Suez Crisis. After his retirement from the military, Doug chose to return to the Niagara region and finished his working life as a public servant at the Canada Center for Inland Waters in Burlington, ON. 

Doug met the love of his life, Clarisse Burton (Lamarre), while stationed in Lachine, QC. They were married on April 29, 1961, and enjoyed a 60-plus year union until Clarisse's passing in 2022. Doug and Clarisse began their married life in Germany and enjoyed weekend camping trips to neighbouring countries for the four years of Doug’s posting. With Clarisse at his side, Doug enjoyed a long retirement that included international travel, community volunteering with the Lions Club of Beamsville and Community Care of West Niagara, and spending time with friends and his growing family.

Doug will be profoundly missed by his son, Richard (Donna), his daughter Linda (Gary), his remaining siblings, Pauline, Dorothy, Russell, Mary, John, and Joyce, and many in-laws, nephews and nieces. His three granddaughters, Madeleine (25), Cadence (21), and Jacqueline (21) were the apples of his eye and will deeply grieve their grand-papa's loss.

If desired, memorial donations may be made to any of the following organizations that Doug supported:

The Lions Club of Beamsville - https://beamsvillelions.ca

The Canadian Cancer Society - https://cancer.ca/en/

Community Care of West Niagara - https://www.communitycarewn.ca/site/home

The Alzheimer Society of Niagara Region - https://alzheimer.ca/niagara/en

Visitation will be held at the Vineland Chapel of Tallman Funeral Homes Ltd., 3277 King St., Vineland on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, at 9:30 am, followed by a service at 11am in the Chapel and then refreshments at the Fireside Room. For anyone unable to attend the service in person, a live stream can be accessed here: Doug Burton Livestream Funeral Service