Herbert George Price, 78, of Burlington, died Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at his home after a thirteen-year battle with nonsmoking lung cancer.
Herbert was born June 23, 1947, in Fort Madison, Iowa, the only child of Margaret Josephine Stump of Selma, Iowa, and Noel Evans Price of Milton, Iowa.
He attended Fort Madison schools till the second grade, when he was removed from the school system because of behavioral problems and was sent to the Mental Health Institute in Independence, Iowa. He returned briefly to the Fort Madison school system but was returned to MHI in Independence for a second time. After returning to his parents' care, he was home-schooled by his mother.
In 1969, he left home and lived at the YMCA in Burlington while employed. He passed the GED test later in 1969 and began attending Southeastern Community College part-time. He earned an AA from SCC in 1973.
On November 2, 1974, he married Sally Anne Kerr. She worked as a Registered Nurse, and Herbert worked in a factory while they saved for the cost of a four-year college. In 1975, they quit their jobs and began studies at the University of Northern Iowa. Sally chose to get a BA degree in speech and theater, and Herbert took business courses till he decided on a major in accounting. Twenty months after beginning studies in Accountancy, Herbert sat for and passed all parts of the CPA exam. His total GPA from both colleges was 3.75.
Despite his success academically, Hebert was unable to satisfy the speed expectations of the CPA firms he worked for. He left the accounting profession and worked in a factory to support his family. Sally had returned to her work as an RN. Herbert and Sally adopted two children, Loren, through private placement, and Anna through Catholic Charities. Herbert and Sally have seven grandchildren: Blaze, Braddock, Tod, Kiya, Keizer, Harper, and Ashton.
Herbert has always enjoyed an interest in cemeteries, toy trains, and Studebaker automobiles. For many years, he was chairman of the Des Moines County Pioneer Cemetery Commission. Later in life, he enjoyed traveling with his wife.
Survivors include wife, Sally Price; children, Loren (Tennille) Price and AnnaLea Walker; grandchildren, Blaze, Braddock, Tod, Kiya, Keizer, Harper, and Ashton.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Noel and Margaret.
Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m until 12:00 p.m., with a time of sharing at 11:30 a.m., Monday, April 13, 2026, at Prugh Funeral Service, 3940 Division Street. Herbert will be laid to rest at Iowaville Cemetery in Selma, Iowa.
Prugh Funeral Service is in care of the arrangements.
Memorial contributions for Herbert are suggested to the Pioneer Cemetery Community of Des Moines County or Hope Lodge of Iowa City.