Section: 325 Lot: 61 Grave: 4

Obituary

heodore E. “Ted” Upton Jr., 89, of Burlington, died at 4:44 p.m. Monday, January 25, 2021 at his residence.
Born August 19, 1931 in Burlington, he was the son of Theodore Edward “Tom” Sr. and Dorothy Rhea (Brown) Upton. He married Mary Catherine (Allen) Upton, Gloria Jean (May) Parsons, and later married Jane F. Cherryholmes.
Ted graduated from Burlington High School in 1949. He served as a sergeant in the United States Marine Corp. during the Korean Conflict 3/17/1951-3/17/1954. He earned an Associates of Arts from Burlington College in 1957, a Bachelor of Science in Education from Western Illinois University in 1959, and a Master of Arts from the University of Iowa in 1970. Ted was a teacher, coach, counselor, and driver’s education instructor at Mediapolis High School. He then went to Southeastern Community College as guidance counselor and academic advisor as well as Student Senate Advisor, retiring in 1994. He was awarded Counselor Emeritus for SCC, Certificate of Recognition from the National Education Association and Iowa State Education Association in June of 1994.
Ted was a member of First United Methodist Church and was a charter member of the Hamilton-Walters Marine Corps League, Detachment 616. He was a VIP for the Volunteer in the Parks Service Program for the National Park Service at Kingsley Plantation in Jacksonville, Florida, for 14 years during 1995-2010. He volunteered a total of 5,751 hours in Jacksonville, of which 535 was in 2010. He was the Lead Interpretation Ranger at Rocky Mountain National Park in Grand Lake, CO in 1999. He also volunteered for the Girl Scouts and the community of Burlington. Ted was instrumental in contributing monetary funds to the SCC dormitory housing project for the men’s Blackhawk Basketball program.
Ted was a physical fitness enthusiast who took long, daily walks and bicycle rides around Burlington. He was a member of the Burlington Tennis Association, playing singles and doubles tennis for which, he won many trophies. In 1994, in just one day and against the advice of park officials, Ted hiked the entire south rim of the Grand Canyon. He enjoyed baseball, music, and was an avid reader.
Survivors include three sons, Thomas C. Upton of Mediapolis, IA, Stephen M. Upton of Burlington, IA, and Timothy Mark Upton of Elkhorn, WI; two daughters, Julie A. (Sean) Shamp of Burlington and Kimberly A. Upton of Des Moines, IA; ten grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren; two nieces; two nephews; and Jane F. Cherryholmes as his companion and caregiver.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Linda Kay (Upton) Hamilton; brother-in-law, Merlin Hamilton; and half-sister, Genevieve Hayworth.
Cremation has been entrusted to Lunning Chapel. Inurnment will be in Aspen Grove Cemetery Thursday, August 19th at noon.
A memorial has been established to Southeastern Community College Foundation or donor’s choice in memory of Ted Upton.