Obituary for Robert "Bob" Burns
Bob Burns was born on August 15, 1920. He is the youngest of 6 brothers all born 2 years apart, he is the son of a Spanish- American War veteran.
He is a veteran of WWII along with 4 of his older brothers. Bob tried to enlist on 8 December 1941 but was turned down for medical reasons. In the May-June 1942 time frame, Bob successfully enlisted in the Army Air Corp and started training at Lowery Field in Denver Colorado to be a bombsite technician on the Norden bomb site. In June of 1943 he was shipped off to East Anglia England to the 385th Bomb group, 550th Bomb squadron of the 8th Air Force to work Norden bomb sites for use in B-17s. After VE day in June 1945 he was shipped back to the continental U.S. and was awaiting orders to go to the Pacific to work bomb sites for B-29s when the war in the Pacific ended.
After the war Bob took advantage of the GI bill and entered Albright College in Reading, PA, graduating with a degree in mathematics. He then moved to Wilmington, Delaware to work for Continental Can where he met the love of his life, Violet in 1954. Bob also worked for Bond Crown and Cork among other jobs.
Bob has been a dedicated member of the Treasure of Delaware Canoe Club since 1954. Bob and Violet made the Canoe Club their home in 1985.
Bob is an example of patriotism as are his brothers, Charles, 2 years older, USMC Infantry; Paul, 4 years older, US Army MP; Jack, 6 years older, US Navy PT boats; Mike, 8 years older, USMC AVN gunner. Bob’s oldest brother, Lyman had a government job and could not be released for military service. Bob donated a Norden bomb site to the Massey Air Museum where it is on display.
Bob was preceded in death by his wife, Violet in 2009; his father, Irvin Patrick Burns, who fought in the Spanish-American War; mother, Margaret Teasdale Burns; and all 5 of his brothers.
He is survived by a nephew, Patrick Burns, and nieces, Adele Ward and Jacque Hershour (Jack); Carol Pierce (Dennis); Judy Sanson (Jimmy); Susan Whittle; as well as great-nieces, great-nephews; and many cherished friends.
A service with military honors for Bob will be held on Tuesday, May 31 at 2pm at Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 2465 Chesapeake City Rd. Bear, DE 19701
He is a veteran of WWII along with 4 of his older brothers. Bob tried to enlist on 8 December 1941 but was turned down for medical reasons. In the May-June 1942 time frame, Bob successfully enlisted in the Army Air Corp and started training at Lowery Field in Denver Colorado to be a bombsite technician on the Norden bomb site. In June of 1943 he was shipped off to East Anglia England to the 385th Bomb group, 550th Bomb squadron of the 8th Air Force to work Norden bomb sites for use in B-17s. After VE day in June 1945 he was shipped back to the continental U.S. and was awaiting orders to go to the Pacific to work bomb sites for B-29s when the war in the Pacific ended.
After the war Bob took advantage of the GI bill and entered Albright College in Reading, PA, graduating with a degree in mathematics. He then moved to Wilmington, Delaware to work for Continental Can where he met the love of his life, Violet in 1954. Bob also worked for Bond Crown and Cork among other jobs.
Bob has been a dedicated member of the Treasure of Delaware Canoe Club since 1954. Bob and Violet made the Canoe Club their home in 1985.
Bob is an example of patriotism as are his brothers, Charles, 2 years older, USMC Infantry; Paul, 4 years older, US Army MP; Jack, 6 years older, US Navy PT boats; Mike, 8 years older, USMC AVN gunner. Bob’s oldest brother, Lyman had a government job and could not be released for military service. Bob donated a Norden bomb site to the Massey Air Museum where it is on display.
Bob was preceded in death by his wife, Violet in 2009; his father, Irvin Patrick Burns, who fought in the Spanish-American War; mother, Margaret Teasdale Burns; and all 5 of his brothers.
He is survived by a nephew, Patrick Burns, and nieces, Adele Ward and Jacque Hershour (Jack); Carol Pierce (Dennis); Judy Sanson (Jimmy); Susan Whittle; as well as great-nieces, great-nephews; and many cherished friends.
A service with military honors for Bob will be held on Tuesday, May 31 at 2pm at Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 2465 Chesapeake City Rd. Bear, DE 19701