A memorial service will be held Saturday, October 18, 2025 for 79-year-old Larry Allen Burton of Chester, Illinois, who passed away at 5:53 am, Wednesday, October 1, 2025, after a long battle with cancer, at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, O’Fallon, Illinois.
He was born August 3, 1946 in Danville, Illinois to Forrest and Geraldine (nee Figg) Burton.
Larry married Judith Gibbs on May 24, 1980 in Hoopeston, Illinois; she survives.
He is also survived by three children: Brandon Burton of Fox Lake, IL, Jennifer (Yancey) Danes of Chatham, IL and Sara Chandler of Red Bud, IL; a brother: Ray (Carolyn) Burton of Elmhurst, IL; eight grandchildren: Adelle Burton (Shad Ortiz), Michaela (Mana) Anderson-Sasi, Devon (Skylar) Tudor, Ella Burton, Richard Burton, Paige Thomas, Thomas Burton and Alex Klingeman; a great grandchild: Zofia Ortiz; and many nieces and nephews.
He was also preceded in death by a brother: Dale Burton and a son: Ryan Burton.
He was a graduate of Southern Illinois University, with a Bachelor’s degree in physical education, and later his Master’s degree from University of Illinois in education administration.
Larry spent his early working years in Milford, Illinois as a teacher and coach.
He went on to become a high school principal in Waverly, Illinois.
After several years, he moved on to State Farm Insurance Agency and became a third generation agent. He had four years as a district manager with the company, in the Quad City area, after which he returned to the agency in Chester, Illinois.
He and his wife Judy worked side by side for 35 years building relationships and serving the community where they lived.
He was a member of the Chester Chamber of Commerce, Memorial Hospital Board of Directors and the Rotary Club where he was a Paul Harris fellow of Rotary International.
Larry was an avid outdoors man. He loved hunting and fishing with a special connection to fishing in Canada. He especially enjoyed the family fishing trips, driving or flying to remote lakes. It was his favorite time and place to enjoy life.
He also had a love for flying. He became a licensed pilot at an early age, had his own plane and enjoyed taking family and friends on short trips anytime the skies were clear. He had a sea plane and had fun landing on water, giving his passengers a thrill. He was devoted to his family.
Visitation will be 9-11 a.m. Saturday at the Pechacek Funeral Homes, Chester, Illinois.
A memorial service for 79-year-old Larry Allen Burton of Chester, Illinois, will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, October 18, 2025 at the Pechacek Funeral Homes, Chester, Illinois with Dr. Mike Fogerson officiating.
Inurnment will be held at a future date at the Floral Hill Cemetery in Hoopeston, Illinois.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Ulman Foundation, 2118 E. Madison Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, www.ulmanfoundation.org