Burns

W. Robert (Bob) Burns, 94, of Volant, Plain Grove Township, Lawrence County, passed away at 7 p.m. Thursday following an extended illness.

Mr. Burns was born in New Castle on Jan. 26, 1921, to Donald Cameron Burns and Mary Margaret Rodgers Burns.

He married Avanell Louise Minor on Nov. 20, 1941, and she preceded him in death on Aug. 28, 1972. He married Betty Florence McAninch on Aug. 14, 1976, and she preceded him in death on Aug. 23, 2011.

Bob is survived by one daughter, Carol Louise Forrester Staz of Camp Hill; one son, Lee Minor Burns of San Francisco, Calif., and Camp Hill; and one sister, Mary Alyce Burns Sturgeon of Palm Harbor, Fla. Bob also is survived by three stepchildren, Jim Thompson (Ohio), David Thompson (Hermitage) and Diane Malecki (Albany, N.Y.). Bob will also be missed by two grandchildren, Hilary Margaret Burns and Stefan Michael Burns, both of San Francisco; five step-grandchildren and five step-great-grandchildren.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Ruth Burns Patterson; and three brothers, Donald Cameron Burns Jr., William H. Burns and infant brother Deryle; and one stepson, Robert Thompson.

The Burns and Rodgers families were among the earliest settlers in Plain Grove Township in the 1800s. As such, Bob loved genealogy and was often considered the historian of Plain Grove. He was an avid reader of The Wall Street Journal until age 92. Bob remembered working on the old thrashing machine crews during the Depression as they went from one farm to the next. His favorite memories of those times as a young man were the wonderful and hearty meals served by farm wives and working with many of the old-timers.

While attending Plain Grove High School, Bob played basketball for four years and was a member of the band, playing saxophone. In 1946 Bob and Avanell Minor Burns bought the old Barbour Farm, a farmhouse built in 1846, and worked together as a young couple to clear fields and pastures to start the dairy.

During the consolidation and forming of the Wilmington Area Junior/Senior High School, Bob served as a Plain Grove School Board member. He also served as a Plain Grove Township supervisor and president of the board for many years and became the road master until retiring at age 85. As a member of the Plain Grove Township Election Board, Bob served as a sergeant of arms until age 91 and voted for 70 years.

After moving from New Castle to Plain Grove, Bob joined the Plain Grove Presbyterian Church in 1930 and served at various times as elder and trustee. He was chairman of the building committee during the rebuilding in 1996 when fire destroyed the original church. During World War II, Bob worked nights at Cooper-Bessemer in Grove City building diesel engines for the war effort and farmed during the day.

After 35 years as a dairy farmer, Bob worked for the Grove City School District until retirement at age 65 as a custodian and groundskeeper.

BURNS — The family of W. Robert “Bob” Burns, who died Thursday, Feb. 19, 2015, will receive friends at the Smith Funeral Home, 421 New Castle St., Slippery Rock on Monday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m.There will be a funeral service on Tuesday at the Plain Grove Presbyterian Church with a viewing and visitation one hour before the service from noon until time of service at 1 p.m. Dr. Stanley Keehlwetter, pastor of the church, will officiate. Immediately following the service, family and friends are invited to a luncheon at the church.Interment will be at the South Plain Grove Cemetery.In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Jude's Children's Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. or to the Lawrence County Mobile Library Program.