William Carroll Burbank

William “Bill” Burbank, 95, of Oskaloosa passed away Friday morning, September 25, 2015, at the MHP Hospice Services Serenity House. William Carroll Burbank, son of Worth Nelson and Mabel Faye Longaker Burbank, was born, April 12, 1920, in Searsboro, Iowa. The family lived in New Sharon before moving to Oskaloosa when Bill was a youngster. Bill was a 1939 graduate of Oskaloosa High and following graduation he moved to California to attend a trade school for building airplanes. After his training, he returned to Oskaloosa and was drafted into the Army. He entered the military, December 18, 1941, and served in the Pacific Theater. He received three bronze stars for his participation in the Luzon, Bismarck, Archipelago and New Guinea Campaigns. He was discharged September 17, 1945. Upon his return to Oskaloosa, he was hired by Blue Ribbon Distributors and drove a beer truck. Bill married Ethel Lucille Hainline, April 6, 1950, Newton, Iowa. They made their home in University Park. Bill went on to work for Iowa Power and Light, where he initially worked on boilers, then on the gas service crew and later drove a truck for the line crew. He retired in 1983, after working for Iowa Power and Light for 30 years. Bill was a member of the American Legion for over 62 years and a former member of the Eagles. In his spare time he enjoyed watching horse races, traveling to Hot Springs, AR and Omaha, NE. Bill’s family includes a son, Gary and Shirley Black of Ohio; a daughter-in-law, Donna Osborn of University Park; six grandchildren: Debbie (Doug) Van Rees of Canfield, OH, Rex Osborn (Sue Else) of Savanna, Georgia, Gregg (Holly) Osborn of University Park, Terry (Mary Ann) Osborn of University Park, Heather (Adam) Bain of Ohio, and John (Laura) Black of Des Moines; 14 great-grandchildren and 12 great-great-grandchildren; and one sister: Norma Lee Anderson of Oskaloosa. In addition to his parents, Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Ethel on July 18, 2001; a granddaughter, Lisa Osborn; a son, L.J. Osborn; five sisters: Ila Owens, Nelda Coffey, Lois Burbank, Esther Burbank and Joan Hayes; and two brothers: Charles Burbank and Worth Burbank in infancy. Funeral services for Bill will be held at 11 a.m., Tuesday, September 29, 2015, at Garland-Van Arkel-Langkamp Funeral Chapel with Pastor Alvern Boetsma of the Good News Chapel officiating. Burial will be in Forest Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 9 a.m., Tuesday morning, the family will greet visitors from 10-11 a.m. prior to the funeral service. Memorials may be made to the Pella Christian Opportunity Center. Memories and condolences may sent to the family by visiting the online guestbook at gvlfuneralchapel.com. PDF Printable Version

William Carroll Burbank

April 12, 1920 - September 25, 2015