George 'G.W.' Burgett

George William "G.W." Burgett, 81, of Dayton, Ohio, formerly of Cape Girardeau, died Friday, Nov. 6, 2015, at Hospice of Dayton in Dayton after chronic health issues.

He was born Oct. 6, 1934, in Doniphan, Missouri, to Ralph DeLano Burgett and Osa Ethel Walpole Burgett.

He attended high school in Naylor, Missouri, graduating in 1952. After high school, he was employed by the local Poplar Bluff, Missouri, shoe factory when he met the love of life, Lois Mae Stilley. At the same time, he made the decision to serve his country and enlisted in the United States Air Force on Aug. 4, 1954, and married Lois on May 28, 1955.

During his 20-year decorated Air Force career, he served as an aircraft maintenance mechanic, instructor and eventually maintenance superintendent. He was stationed in Texas, Arkansas, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Vietnam, and retired Sept 1, 1974, while stationed at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. Upon retiring, he moved the family to Cape Girardeau, where he was hired by Procter & Gamble as a production line worker, technician, team leader and trainer; retiring again in 1994 after 20 years.

During this period in Cape Girardeau, George and his family were members of Lighthouse Baptist Church, where George and Lois where active members. There they began and taught a Sunday school class for people with special needs for many years. Lois passed away Jan. 9, 2009, and his son, Douglas Burgett, passed away May 29, 2014, after which George moved to Dayton to live with his daughter Terri and son-in-law Bill Stockman.

George is survived by his daughter, Terri Jo Burgett Stockman; grandsons Brent William Stockman of Washington, D.C., and Brock Allen Stockman of Fort Walton Beach, Florida. He also has four great-grandchildren, Julia, Anika and Christopher Stockman, and a new baby boy Stockman being born in December.

He was preceded in death by his wife and son; his mother, Osa Walpole Armstrong; his father, Ralph Delano Burgett; and a brother, James R. Burgett.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home.

The funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home, with the Rev. David Pringle officiating. Entombment will be at Cape County Memorial Park Mausoleum, with full military honors by the Missouri Honor Team.

George was a Christian and touched many lives over his lifetime with his kind acts and exceptional character. His passing is heaven's gain and he will be missed greatly by everyone who knew him.

Memorial contributions may be given to Lighthouse Bible Baptist Church Mission Program.

Online condolences may be made at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.