Wilbur "Sonny" Burgess

Wilbur “Sonny” Burgess, age 84, a resident of Portland, passed away on Saturday, May 28, 2022 at IU Health Jay Hospital in Portland.

Sonny was born on March 17, 1938, in Geneva, Indiana, the son of Wilford and Velma (Jack) Burgess.  He married Esta Spencer on June 1, 1957.

Sonny worked for NAAS Foods in Geneva and retired from The Portland Forge in 2001.  He was a member of the Portland Moose Lodge.

Survivors include:

His wife of 64 years:  Esta Burgess – Portland, Indiana

2 children:  Jeffery Burgess (wife Carrie) – Loveland, Colorado

Lucinda “Cindy” Jackson (husband Donald) – Sumter, South Carolina

1 brother:  Darrell Burgess – Bryant, Indiana

1 sister:  Josephine Prince – Camden, Tennessee

4 grandchildren:  Andrew Burgess, Erik Burgess, Daniel Jackson and Nathanael Jackson

1 great-granddaughter:  Helen Grace Jackson

Sister-in-laws:  Edna Wall, Maggie Spencer and Dorothy Burgess all of Portland.

Several nieces and nephews

He was preceded in death by his parents; Wilford and Velma Burgess, his siblings; Willard, Paul and Dean Burgess and one sister; Eleanor Kenestrick.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday from 5-7 p.m. at Williamson-Spencer and Penrod Funeral Home in Portland.  Funeral services will be held on Thursday at 11 a.m. at Williamson-Spencer and Penrod Funeral Home in Portland.  Visitation will also be held one hour prior to the service on Thursday.  Burial will follow at Green Park Cemetery in Portland.

Memorials may be directed towards Riley Hospital for Children or St. Jude Children’s Hospital.