Obituaries

Services for David Edwin Burns, 96, who passed away February 19, will be held at Dannel Funeral Home Friday February 24 at 3PM, with Rev Joe Ed Goolsby of First Methodist Church officiating. The family will receive guests starting at 2PM. Burial will be at Friendship Cemetery. Mr. Burns was born April 12, 1920 in the living quarters above the family's pub in Newtownards, County Down, Northern Ireland. The son of David & Sarah McCullough Burns, the family moved to the United States in 1924, settling in Emsworth, PA, a suburb of Pittsburgh. He attended Ben Avon high school where he lettered in football. He held his first job while still in high school. He was employed by the Allegheny Branch of the YMCA when he enlisted in the Army Air Corps in September 1941. He was transferred to Sheppard AFB where he met his future wife, Mary Jane Bell, on a church hayride for the troops. He attended aircraft and engine maintenance school. He & Jane were in church when the news of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor was announced. Then he was assigned to the famous “Jolly Rogers”, 90th Bomb Group H, 319th Air Force, to be stationed in the South Pacific theater for 4 years. He served as T/Sgt. Crew Chiefing B 24 “Liberator bombers, receiving 6 overseas bars, 1 service bar, 1 engine maintenance badge, a Presidential Unit Citation with Oak Leaf Cluster. Additionally, he was awarded 2 Silver Stars and 1 Bronze Star for service in 11 different military campaigns in defense of Australia, Bismark Archipelago, China, Leyte and Luzon Islands, Philippines, New Guinea, Paupau, New Guinea, Northern Solomon Islands, Southern Philippines and Western Pacific. He also served 1 tour in the Marine Corps reserves and 2 tours in the Air Force Reserves. Upon returning home after WWII, David & Mary Jane were married in Greenville, TX on September 23, 1945. The Burns' lived their entire married lives in Sherman, TX. They were members of Key Memorial Methodist Church for over 60 years. Mr. Burns worked 28 years for the Department of Defense at Perrin AFB, retiring when the Base was closed. The next day he went to work in the County Clerks Office then he became a Deputy for the Grayson County Sheriff's Office. He “officially” retired in 1983 but never truly stopped working. Mr. Burns is survived by his wife of 71 years, daughters Janis Burns Oliver and Brenda Burns Marr and husband Larry, granddaughter Lauren Langford Thomas, and 2 great grandchildren Baylee Jane and Gavin Burns. David was preceded in death by his parents, brother James M. Burns and his beloved dog Sugar. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to ARF House through their website, ARFHouse.org/honor . A donation form can downloaded or filled out online. The Burns family would like to thank Heart To Heart Hospice, Home Instead, Wilson N. Jones Hospital and Texoma Healthcare Center. You may sign online condolences at www.dannelfuneralhome.com.