Earl Burns

Earl Wilbur Burns “Pepper”, age 77, of Chambersburg, PA; passed away in his home on Monday, July 18, 2011. Born August 3, 1933 in Chambersburg, he was the son of the late Jesse and Kathryn Miller Burns.

After retiring as a Quality Control Specialist for the Department of Defense in 1995, Earl moved back to the Chambersburg Area. He enjoyed traveling, wood working, flying airplanes, modeling airplanes, and the history of Chambersburg. Always active in his community, Earl was a Commander of the Civil Air Patrol, the Masonic Lodge in Largo, FL, a member of the Boys Club of Greater Washington, the Kittochtinny Historical Society, and Coaching football. In addition, Earl was a 1952 graduate of the former Chambersburg High School.

Surviving are his wife of 58 years, Mary Joan Burns, whom he married January 17, 1953; four children, Kathy Jacoby (Donald) of Finksburg, MD, Jacquelyn Barnett (Michael) of Richmond, VA, Terry Burns of Midlothian, VA, and Garry Burns of Ft. Loudon, PA; nine grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and four siblings, Jean Forman of Chambersburg, Jerold Burns of Monroeville, PA, Maryanne Oliver of Titusville, FL, and Richard Burns of Titusville, FL. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a grandson, Stephen Dodge and four siblings, Grace Hippensteel, Robert Burns, Dorothy Townsend, and Kenneth Burns.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, July 22, 2011 at 1:30 PM in the Chapel of Thomas L. Geisel Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 333 Falling Spring Rd., Chambersburg, PA; where Pastor Suzanne Elliott will officiate. The family will receive friends in the funeral home on Thursday, July 21, 2011 from 7-9 PM and one hour prior to service on Friday. Interment will follow the service in Lincoln Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions in his name to Lutheran Home Care and Hospice, 2700 Luther Dr., Chambersburg, PA 17202.