Betty J. (Knox) Burniston, 77, of Bluffton, died at 1:18 a.m. today, Oct. 15, 2009, at Parkview Memorial Hospital. Mrs. Burniston was born on April 9, 1932 in Franklin County, Ohio to Howard E. and Roenna D. (Cochrun) Shipley. She married Robert E. Burniston in Bluffton on July 30, 1988; he preceded her in death on March 10, 2008. Surviving relatives include one son, Kevin (Carlene) Knox of Fort Wayne; one daughter, Karen Thornburg of Bluffton; and one sister, Donna (Jack) Wall of Colorado Springs, Colo. Calling hours will be from 2 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Goodwin Memorial Chapel in Bluffton. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, at the funeral home. Burial will be at Elm Grove Cemetery.