Robert Burtner

Robert Burtner Robert W. Burtner (1924-2011) | Visit Guest Book Robert Wallace Burtner was born June 27, 1924 in Corvallis, OR to John Cole Burtner and Martha Hawley Burtner. He graduated from Corvallis High School in 1942, attended Oregon State University from 1942-43, then joined the Naval V-12 program and was stationed at Doane College in Crete, NE. Upon completion of his apprentice seaman assignment and graduation from Doane, he returned to Oregon briefly, and married Cleo Wakefield at the First Methodist Church Corvallis on March 4, 1945. They returned to Crete to pick up his orders which directed him to pre-chaplain training at Garrett Biblical Institute in Evanston, Illinois. After two years of post-graduate studies at Garrett, Bob attended Union Theological Seminary in New York City and studied under Reinhold Niebuhr and Paul Tillich. There he received his Master's Degree in 1948. Bob returned to Oregon where he was appointed to organize a new Methodist church in the River Road area of Eugene. He was a member of the Oregon/Oregon-Idaho Conference of the United Methodist Church for 63 years. He served churches at Trinity Methodist in Eugene (1948-1961), Rose City Park in Portland (1966-1976), and First Church Corvallis (1976-1986). He served two terms as a District Superintendent: Salem District (1961-1966), and the Southern District (1986-1991). In 1949, Bob participated in a World Peace Tour of Europe sponsored by the Methodist Church. In 1973, he was part of a Marxist/Christian Dialog study group which convened in Europe. In 1984, he spent time in South Africa, studying and preaching against apartheid. He co-authored "A Compend of Wesley's Theology" in 1954 which was reprinted in 1982 and 1984. Bob also served as a member of the Willamette University Board of Trustees, was a Willamette Trustee Life Member, and was a retired elder in the United Methodist Church. He is survived by his wife Cleo, son and daughter-in-law David & Leona Henderson, daughter and son-in-law Shelley and Peter Wallace; three grandchildren: Adrian and wife Amy, Erik and Evan, and three step-grandchildren: Lori, Jake and Jenna. A memorial service will be held at First Methodist Church Corvallis at 1 p.m. on Thursday, December 15, 2011. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to your local food bank, Hospice, or charity of your choice .