M. Sheila Burton

SALISBURY - M. Sheila Burton, 88, formerly of East Main Street, died on Jan. 15, 2008, at the Ashley Grange Nursing Home in Salisbury, England. She was the widow of Rufus T. Burton, who died in 1976.

Mrs. Burton was born Feb. 11, 1919, in Salisbury, England, the daughter of Margaret (Thomson) and J. Hubert Edmunds.

Having met in India, Sheila and Rufus were married Feb. 9, 1942, in New York City. During Mr. Burton’s career with Exxon, the family moved regularly, living in India, Pakistan, the Philippines, England and the United States. Continually on the move, Mrs. Burton took great pride in her homes and enjoyed decorating and collecting artifacts and antiques from all over the world. She was an enthusiastic gardener and oil painter.

The Burtons moved to Salisbury Conn., in 1967, after he retired from Exxon. They became active members of the community. Mrs. Burton volunteered at Sharon Hospital and worked with SCAF and other charitable causes.

A very avid golfer, she was a member of the Sharon Country Club. In the summer, she also enjoyed the music at Tanglewood and in the winter months she could be found skiing at Butternut.

She is survived by Antony Thomas, Karalyn Wilson and son-in-law Hugh Wilson and their two daughters in Britain, and Lin Burton, Rufus Burton and daughter-in-law Mary Burton and their two sons and four grandchildren in the United States.

A small service will be held Jan. 24 at the Griffins Chapel, Salisbury, England. Another memorial service will be conducted later in the year in Rockville, Ind.

Memorial donations may be sent to either the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, 322 Eighth Ave., New York, NY 10001; or to the Salisbury Volunteer Ambulance Service, PO Box 582, 8 Undermountain Road, Salisbury, CT 06068.