Nina Lea Burden

Burden, Nina Lea (Rush), age 84, passed away Thursday, April 7, 2005, at Wesley Hospital. Funeral services are scheduled for 1:00 PM Monday, at Calvary United Methodist Church, with interment at 5:00 PM, Garfield, Kansas Cemetery. Nina Lea was born December 11, 1920, in Garfield, KS. She graduated from high school there and attended art classes in college at McPherson, KS. She and Ralph T. Gooden were married June 2, 1940. They had only one child, Ronald R. Gooden. Ralph developed a brain tumor and had unsuccessful surgery and the tumor returned. Nina Lea sold her paintings to support the struggling family. She then worked for the Boy Scouts of America office in Wichita, where she met and later married Walter L. Burden, a professional scouter and Boeing engineer. She left the Scout Office to work for McCormick Armstrong Printing Company as an Artist and Proofreader. Her artwork has been displayed in the Smithsonian Institute. Nina Lea and Walter were paramount in relocating Calvary United Methodist Church from downtown at English & Lulu to 25th Street North and Rock Road. Walter died in July 2000. Her son Ronald R. Gooden survives her. Also surviving are three grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren; Christina L. Durbin, and her daughter, Tiffany; Randall Wade Gooden, and his four children, Katherine, David, Teresa and Jonathan; Shawn Cory Gooden, and his four children, Matthew, Sarah, Annie and Jacob. A memorial has been established with Calvary United Methodist Church, 2525 N. Rock Road, Wichita, KS 67226. Go online to watsonfuneral.com to sign the guestbook or send condolences. Services are under the direction of Watson's Garden Chapel.