William Donald Burdine, age 82, passed away peacefully on June 3, 2026, in Mountain Home, Arkansas.
William Donald Burdine, age 82, passed away peacefully on June 3, 2026, in Mountain Home, Arkansas.
William, known as Don to friends and family, was born February 4, 1944, in Knoxville, Arkansas, to Lonnie and Novene (Weber) Burdine. As a young boy, Don moved with his parents and two older brothers to California, growing up in Lompoc. At the age of 19, Don enlisted in the United States Army and proudly served in the Army Security Agency in Okinawa, Japan. After his Honorable Discharge, Don returned to the U.S. to work in Dothan, Alabama, before heading back to Lompoc where he met his future bride, Carol Ann Chrones, in 1968.
Don married Carol in November 1969. In 1972, they moved with Carol’s two sons and daughter to Dothan, Alabama, to work in construction. They had one son together in Dothan before moving to pursue new work opportunities in Cocoa, Florida, and welcomed the birth of their second son. Don began working as a pressman for Gannett News in Rockledge, Florida. In June 1983, his career with Gannett led Don, Carol, and their three youngest children to Olympia, Washington.
Don and Carol enjoyed many years together in Washington State, raising their children and actively serving in local Church of Christ congregations wherever they lived. In 2004, Don and Carol moved to Cherokee, Texas, to serve as house parents for the Cherokee Home for Children. In 2012, they continued in service as Camp Caretakers at the Copper Basin Bible Camp in Prescott, Arizona. In 2015, Don and Carol retired and returned to Washington State. A final move took them to Mountain Home, Arkansas, to be closer to their daughter while Carol was undergoing cancer treatment.
Don enjoyed the outdoors, hunting, fishing, camping and horseback riding. He cherished a fishing trip with his daughter, Stina, on the White River a few years ago. He often spoke of his desire to fish in the ponds outside his home at Sycamore Springs Senior Living or take a long river fishing trip down the Buffalo River. He cherished his family and longed to reunite with Carol, the love of his life.
Don was preceded in death by his parents; his two older brothers, Doyle and Howard; his wife, Carol, and stepson, Charles Paul Rigo, III. Don is survived by his stepchildren, Chris (Donna) Rigo and Stina (Doug) Klassen; his two sons, Lonnie (Lyn) Burdine and Thomas (Erin) Burdine; 11 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.
Don will be laid to rest next to Carol, his wife of 53 years, at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery located at 5201 S. Southwood Rd. in Springfield, Missouri on Monday, June 15, at 10:00 a.m.
