Robert M. Burns

Robert M. Burns, Sr., 89, of Greenwood, husband of Olivia 'Dib'A? Byers Burns, died Thursday, May 31, 2012 at Self Regional Healthcare. He was born in Hickory, NC to the late William J. & Ruby Perdue Burns. Mr. Burns served in the U.S. Marine Corp, U.S. Army and retired from the U.S. Air Force in 1973 having served in WWII and was a Purple Heart recipient and was awarded two bronze stars. He received his BA degree from Lenoir-Rhyne University. Mr. Burns also retired after 14 years as an Auditor/Accountant for the U.S. Department of Transportation. He was a member of Calvary Baptist Church. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his two brothers, William P. Burns and Gordon F. Burns, and his sister, Martha Honeycutt. Surviving Mr. Burns is his wife of 71 years of the home; a son, Robert M. Burns, Jr. and his wife, Charmagne, of Walhalla, SC; a daughter, Elizabeth Ann Chitwood, of Orlando, FL; four grandchildren, C.R. Dunnavant, Tim Dunnavant, Robert Burns, III and Laura Burns Pacek; and four great-grandchildren, Nathan, Devon, J.T. and Ava Lily. The family will receive friends from 6:00PM to 8:00PM on Saturday, June 2, 2012 at Harris Funeral Home. Funeral services will be 2:30PM Sunday, June 3, 2012 in the funeral home chapel with the Rev. Kevin Hembree officiating. Graveside services will follow at 4:30PM at the Crossroads Baptist Church Cemetery in Hartwell, GA with full military honors. The family is at the home in Greenwood on Mathis Rd. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests that memorial contributions in memory of Mr. Burns be sent to the Calvary Baptist Church, 2775 Montague Ave. Ext., Greenwood, SC 29649. A message of condolence may be sent to the family by visiting www.harrisfuneral.com. HARRIS FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES of Abbeville is assisting the Burns family.