Burns, William (Bill) Troy

Born August 29, 1923
Died April 7, 2010

- picture here -

Obituary:

William (Bill) Troy Burns was born August 29^th, 1923 in North Washington, PA to Hazel I. Morris Burns and Troy Campbell Burns. He graduated from Butler High School in 1941 and enrolled at the College of Wooster, where he studied for 1½ years before enlisting in the U.S. Navy. Bill served on the U.S.S. Barnegat during W.W. II.

After being honorably discharged from the Navy in 1944, Bill, his father, and brother Robert K. Burns formed the Great Lakes Flyers Limited and bought an airport from the city of Ashtabula, OH. The Burns family operated the airport and its flight training school until 1951.

In 1947, Bill enrolled at Parks Air College (part of St. Louis University) and graduated in 1950, earning a B.S. Degree in Aeronautics & Aviation Operations, with and Airport Management major. While at Parks he was active in ROTC and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the USAF. Bill was a member of the Alpha Beta Gamma Fraternity and Alpha Eta Rho national professional aviation fraternity, and played basketball and soft during his junior and senior years.

Bill worked for Ozark Airlines from 1950-1952. While working as station manager in Cape Girardeau, MO, he met Dorcas Ruby Wilhour, an Ozark stewardess. A few years later they began dating and married in 1954.

Bill worked for McDonnell-Douglas Aircraft Company from 1952-1987. During those years, he and “Dorkey” raised a family in Florissant, MO and began worshiping at the First Presbyterian Church of Ferguson.

Bill's first loves where his Lord Jesus, Dorkey, his children Barbara, Joanne and Troy, and grandchildren Andrew, Amy, Jenna, Chris, Kari and Alyssa. He also loved fishing, barbershop quartet singing, and in his latter years writing his memoir: “The Life & Times of William Troy Burns.”

From 2010 Annual Show Program:

In Memoriam

     Bill Burns has not been a member of our chapter for several years. When he was, he took part in chapter administration as well as singing with the lead section. He loved singing and being a part of the annual show where he "hammed it up" with the best of us. Bill was loyal to the chapter and was never hesitant to offer his opinion, which was usually right on. He dropped out when he felt that he was not an asset to the chapter. As his health declined, he kept a couple of pictures close by. One was that of Bill and an aircraft, as he loved flying. The other was a picture of our chorus dressed in our tux outfit. Thanks, Bill for your leadership and your loyalty. If you asked Bill how he was doing, he always responded, "Better than I deserve - thanks to the graciousness of the Lord". Aren't we all !

The ministers memorial message was based on one of Bill's favorite poems:

End of the Road

When I come to the end of the road,
and the sun has set for me,
I want no nights in a gloom-filled room –
why cry for a soul set free?
Miss me a little but not too long,
and not with your head bowed low.
Remember the love that we once shared –
miss me, but let me go.
For this is a journey that we all must take,
and each must go alone,
It's all a part of the Master's plan,
a step on the road to home.
When you are lonely and sick of heart,
go to the friends we know,
And bury your sorrow in doing good deeds.
Miss me but let me go.

Anonymous