Burtner

Arthur R. Burtner passed away at 5:50 a.m. Saturday at the age of 97.

Born July 11, 1911, in Jefferson Township, he was the eldest son of Forest and Lena (Giles) Burtner.

He retired from Armco Steel Corp. after 47 years of continuous service in the carpenter shop.

Throughout his life, he exemplified the family legacy of actively supporting his community. As a lifetime resident of Jefferson Township, he served on the township planning commission, was a member of the Jefferson Township School Board for 12 years and was instrumental in the establishment of the South Butler County School District and the formation of Knoch High School in 1958.

He was a lifetime member of Thorn Creek United Methodist Church, serving on various boards and as the church treasurer for 35 years.

His many other contributions include actively working with the Butler Historical Society, acting on the committee that obtained historic registry designation for the Philip Burtner House in Natrona Heights (his great-grandfather's homestead), writing articles for the Moraine Rockbusters club describing his adventures in rockhounding, a Shriner in the Masonic Lodge, coaching and managing boys baseball, organizing the Butler Food Pantry, and assisting with Meals on Wheels.

Arthur was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Elizabeth Ambrose Burtner; two infant sons; two sisters, Elsie and Charlotte; and four brothers, Cecil, Neal, Russel and Vance.

He is survived by one son, Larry A. Burtner of Butler; two daughters, Mrs. Gay (Joanne) Bennett of Butler and Mrs. Ray (Elaine) Usell of San Diego, Calif.; 11 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; four sisters, Mrs. Clyde (Joyce) Trumbauer of Elkhart, Ind., Mrs. Jessie Skinner of Shipshawana, Ind., Mrs. George (Frances) Boggs of Cabot and Mrs. Marilyn Glasgow of Butler; six brothers, Giles of Webster, N.Y., Keith of Butler, Vernon of St. Louis, Mo., the Rev. Roger Burtner of Conroy, Texas, Wendell of Chili, N.Y., and Harry of Butler; and numerous nieces and nephews.

<B>BURTNER</B> — Friends and family of Arthur R. Burtner, who died Saturday, Jan. 3, 2009, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the <B>Thompson-Miller Funeral Home Inc.</B>, 124 E. North St. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at funeral home with Pastor Kurt Knobel of Thorn Creek Methodist Church officiating. Interment will follow in the Butler County Memorial Park.Memorial contributions may be made to Burtner House Historical Society, P.O. Box 292, Natrona Heights, PA 15065.Information and a private guest book are available at www.thompson-miller.com.