Rex Burden

Rex. R. Burden, Garden City, KS passed away Jan. 8th, 2016. Rex was born May 27, 1921 in Chase, KS. He graduated from K-State in Dec of 1942 with a degree in business. He enlisted in the Army in January 1943. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant serving in the costal artillery. Rex applied for pilot training and graduated in the class of 1944E. He was shipped out to England in November of that year. His first mission was flying the new P51 on November 26, 1944, the Sunday after Thanksgiving. He flew a total of 55 missions. His last mission on May 2, 1945, escorting a B-17 bomber dropping leaflets, was just 6 days before VE-Day. Some of his decorations and citations included the Air Medal w/ 5 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Distinguished Flying Cross and the WWII Victory Medal.

Back in the States, Rex did some teaching in Hutchinson. He married Mary Louise Carl on Jan. 29, 1950 and moved to Garden City, KS where he became a very successful farmer. Rex and Mary loved to travel and traveled all over the world. For over 20 years, they wintered for two months in Hawaii. Rex and Mary moved to Overland Park in 2008 to be closer to family.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Mary; and his daughter, Betsy. He is survived by his son-in-law, Tom; his grandchildren, Meghan (Nick) and Brandon and his great grandchildren, Madison, Jackson and Brooklyn.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Garden City Zoo or the Wounded Warrior Project.

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