Charles Warren Burton, 75, passed away on September 6th, 2021 comforted by his wife of 40 years, Patricia (Patti) Tamisiea. He is survived by his wife; his daughter, Robin RaeLynn; his sons, Charles Camden and Leo Colin; his son-in-law, Shawn; his daughter-in-law, Margaret; and his grandsons Jack, Luke, and Jonah. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ruby and Warren Burton.
Charles’s life was defined by his love as a husband, father, and grandfather and by his duty as an Army veteran and police officer. He served the citizens of Kansas for more than 28 years as a Sergeant for the Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP), from which he retired in March of 2008.
Charles became a Motor Carrier Inspector (MCI) for KHP on September 4, 1979, and was assigned to the Mobile Enforcement Unit in the Leavenworth area. Always a smooth operator, Charles met Patti when diverting traffic as she was removing a dead squirrel as an animal control officer. A unique start to a life together, they were married later in 1981.
Charles is a graduate of Licking High School in Licking, Missouri, and he studied police science at Johnson County Community College and Barton County Community College. Before serving with the State of Kansas, he served in the U.S. Army from 1965 to 1968, and held the rank of sergeant and helicopter crew chief. He was awarded an Air Medal, Army Commendation, Army Achievement, Good Conduct award, crew member wings, and U.S. Defense and Vietnam Service medals. Afterward, Charles moved to Everett, Washington to become an aircraft mechanic with Boeing. It was there he began his career in law enforcement where he was a deputy sheriff with the King County Sheriff’s Department in Washington state.
Upon returning to Kansas, he became a patrolman with the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department, from 1968 to 1970. He also was a patrolman with the Overland Park Police Department (OPPD) from 1970 to 1978. As a member of the OPPD, he was a motorcycle officer and SWAT member, and he received two citations of merit. Charles also served in the Kansas Army National Guard from 1982 to 1985, and held the rank of sergeant in the artillery. Charles was a graduate of the Drug Enforcement Administration's National Law Enforcement Academy, where he served for a few years as an undercover agent, which is memorialized in photos of Charles with a ZZ-Top-esque appearance.
Charles was promoted to MCI field supervisor in 1981 and transferred to Liberal, Kansas, eventually being promoted to Sergeant in 1983. In 1986, he returned to the Kansas City area where he stayed to raise his family. At that time, Charles was assigned to KHP Troop A, headquartered in Olathe.
A lifelong fisherman, Charles was always happy out on the water, whether it was at Beaver Lake on family trips in Arkansas, Truman Lake visiting his parents in Missouri, or his many trips to the ocean in Florida and Louisiana. He was a loyal and avid Kansas City Royals and Chiefs fan, almost never missing a game and always enjoying a game of catch with his family. An incredibly funny person, Charles was a constant source of joy and humor, sharing his love of puns, dry-wit, and observations with everyone.
A loyal and loving friend, husband, dad, and “Papa” he will be dearly missed and always loved.
A private funeral service will be held at Porter Funeral Home and a military burial at Leavenworth National Cemetery will be held. Condolences can be sent to Porter Funeral Home, 8535 Monrovia, Lenexa, KS. Donations may be made to the Paralyzed Veterans of America