Walter Leon Burton

Burton, W Leon 3/13/1935 - 10/7/2022 Las Vegas, NV Walter Leon Burton passed peacefully in his sleep on October 7, 2022. Leon, as he was known all his life, was born on March 13, 1935 in Flint, Michigan. He arrived during the height of the Great Depression, which innately gave him a determination, drive, and intense fighting spirit that would carry him throughout his life. Being one of the eldest children of twelve children in his family, he always loved to run and play outside. Undoubtedly, this is when he honed his skill for track and field, and later, professional football. During his high school years at Flint Northern High School he was an all-star athlete, taking his football and track teams to several state championships. He set the city and state track meet records in low hurdles. He was so fastrunning a 6.2 in the 60-yard dash he was nicknamed "The Jet"by a local reporter, and the name stuck. He attended Arizona State university (ASU) where he became the school's first black star athlete. In his first year he was named Border Conference Freshman of the Year. He was later inducted into the ASU Sports Hall of Fame in 1979 and the ASU Ring of Honor in 2013. in 1990, Leon was inducted into the Greater Flint Area Hall of Fame. He went on to play professional football for the Toronto Argonauts and the New York Titans (a precursor to the Jets), and locally for the semi-pro team the Grand Rapids Blazers. One of the highlights of his professional career was running a stunning 101-yard kickoff return for the Jets in 1960, the second longest kick return in the AFL at the time. Leon eventually settled in Grand Rapids, MI where he established his roots. He married his high school sweetheart, Ellen Marie Burton (ne Collins) and together they raised four children: Gary, Piere Sr., Lynnae, and Nicole. Leon worked for many years for Meijer, Inc. before his retirement in 2000. Even then, he continued to give back to his community by volunteering at Sigsbee Elementary, a school his children attended. He belonged to many civic organizations in Grand Rapids, and loved golf, boating, and laughing. Leon had retired to Las Vegas, NV, where services will be held on Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022 at Palm Northwest Mortuary (dignitymemorial.com). Leon is preceded in death by his parents Walter Burton and Mary Jefferson (ne Hatten), his second wife Antoinette Burton (ne Flowers) and five siblings. He is survived by his four adult children (mentioned earlier), his first wife Ellen, countless grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. He will be very much missed by all.

A funeral service for Walter will be held Saturday, October 22, 2022 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Palm Northwest Mortuary, 6701 North Jones Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89131. A committal service will occur Saturday, October 22, 2022 from 12:00 PM to 12:30 PM at Palm Northwest Cemetery, 6701 North Jones Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89131. A reception will occur Saturday, October 22, 2022 from 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM, 6701 North Jones Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89131.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.palmnorthwest.com for the Burton family.