David R. Burton – November 4, 2024

David R. Burton was born in Warrensburg, Missouri on April 30, 1957, to Raymond and Mary Jane Burton. He grew up with and adored his sisters, Raylene, Renee, and Dottie.

As a child he enjoyed playing with his Hot Wheels and Army toys and was a great baseball player in his teen years living in Spain during one of their father’s many assignments.

In 1974 David joined the US Army and served as a Quarrying Specialist, separated and worked in the mines near Leadville, then reenlisted again in 1977 as a Ground Surveillance Radar Crewman, earning the non-commissioned officer rank of Sergeant.

In 1977 he married Cheryl Jasen and moved to Kansas where they expanded the family with Aaron and Alicia. The Army moved them to Mannheim, Germany where he proudly defended democracy and our European allies during the Cold-War. They truly enjoyed life abroad and traveling for a short time until his motorcycle accident, which sent him to Tampa, Florida. After his rehab, his determination drove him to become one of the top wheelchair racers and marathoners in the country, and in addition to several top state and national placings and championships, he competed and medaled in the predecessor to the US Paralympics in the UK.

David later married Marian Paeth for another new and great chapter in life, completed a bachelor’s degree in physical fitness at the University of Tampa, and developed a taste for flipping properties, renovating several cabins throughout South Park between Breckenridge, Salida, and Guffey, Colorado and condos in Manitou Springs and Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Throughout his journey, he loved his German Shepherds and Husky companions over the years. David enjoyed traveling and exploring, especially our Rocky Mountains, participating in the annual Gasparilla events and parade outside his condo on Bayshore in Tampa, and made countless cross-country drives between Colorado and Florida, making regular pit-stops for some fun in St Louis and New Orleans, often conveniently timed with Mardi Gras. He loved his sports cars, especially his several corvettes. He was a fantastic snow-skier, guitar player, and pool player. His “need for speed” never satisfied, he built a Harley Davidson with a sidecar, lived for every next ride, and rode every ride like it was his last.

David cherished his mother and father; his children, Aaron and Alicia; daughter-in-law, Gina; and grandchildren, Miles, Ava, Kylee, and Braelynn; and his sisters. He made friends everywhere he went, and everyone who was blessed to know David can attest to his tenacity, positivity, boldness, generosity, and taste for adventure.  As David joins his father, Raymond; and daughter, Alicia in the afterlife; he is survived by his adoring mother, Mary Jane; his sisters, Raylene and her husband, David Williams, Renee Piskorski, Dottie and her husband, Paul Farrell; his son, Aaron; and grandchildren, cousins, nieces, and nephews. 

A Visitation in honor of David will be held on Friday, November 15, 2024, at 9:30AM, followed by a Funeral Service at 10:30AM, at the Shrine of Remembrance “America the Beautiful” Chapel, 1730 East Fountain Boulevard, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80910.