The funeral for Albert W. Burgess , 86, of Fort Supply, will be 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2009, in the Fort Supply High School gym. Pastor Aaron Martin will officiate. Burial will be at Mt. Olive Cemetery. Arrangements are by Billings Funeral Home, Woodward. Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
He was born March 24, 1923, to Dallas Clifton and Lavern Harvey Burgess on the family farm in Ellis County and died Thursday, Dec. 3, 2009, after a long struggle with acute myeloid leukemia. He grew up in the Mt. Olive community and attended Northstar country school and the Fort Supply school. He graduated from May High School in 1942. He married Betty Jane Albers Sept. 1, 1943, in Lebanon, Mo., while he was stationed at Fort Leonard Wood in the Army. He served in the Army during World War II and was stationed overseas for two years with the 217th General Hospital Unit as a medic. He achieved the rank of tech 5 and received the Good Conduct Medal, World War II Victory Ribbon, European Theater Ribbon and a Bronze Service Star. He was honorably discharged Feb. 28, 1946. After the war, he bought land and began farming. He also worked at Western State Hospital. They lived near Fort Supply. He also traveled across the country harvesting wheat. He was a member of Fort Supply Methodist Church, Fort Supply Lions Club, Fort Supply Civic Club and served on Fort Supply school board and Mt. Olive Cemetery Board.
Surviving are his wife, Betty of the home; one daughter, Bonnita Gaddis of Vienna, Va.; three sons, Kenton Burgess of Shattuck, Keith Burgess of Farnsworth, Texas, and Kirk Burgess of Wakita; four brothers, Carl Burgess of Chicago, George Burgess of Woodward, J.D. Burgess of Fort Supply and Vern Burgess of Woodward; one sister, Vera Pierce of Amarillo, Texas; 10 grandchildren; one stepgrandson; 16 great-grandchildren; and one stepgreat-grandchildren. Memorials may be made through the funeral home to Mt. Olive Cemetery. Remembrances may be shared on-line at www.billingsfuneralhomewoodward.com.