Edwin Thompson "Ed" Burns

1929 - 2021

Edwin "Ed" Thompson Burns
April 15, 1929 - January 24, 2021
Gray, Georgia - Edwin (Ed) Burns passed away on January 24, 2021 after a brief illness and hospitalization. A Celebration of his life will be held on Friday, January 29, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. at Martha Bowman United Methodist Church. The family will greet friends from 1:00 p.m. to service time at the church. Burial will be in Macon Memorial Park Cemetery with the Rev. Mark Magoni and Dr. Wesley Ulrich officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Martha Bowman United Methodist Church, 500 Bass Road, Macon GA 31210.
He was born to Henry Bun Burns and Ludie Thompson Burns on April 15, 1929 in Twiggs County, GA. He was their 4th child of 5 and the only son. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1946 until 1950 and continued a career with the US Naval Reserves until retirement. He served abroad in Naples, Italy and on the naval ship USS Midway. He became a journeyman machinist while in the Navy, and continued this profession until becoming a quality control and contract specialist at the Warner Robins Air Force base. Upon his retirement from the base, he continued working on his home at Lake Sinclair, and building homes for others.
He enjoyed being a gunsmith, working on his Mustang, and working in his vegetable garden. He was active in the Masons and served as "Worshipful Master" at his lodge. He volunteered and ran an ID fingerprinting project for children, information that could be used in solving missing children's cases. He was a dedicated member of Martha Bowman United Methodist Church, an avid Sunday school scholar, and had a great interest in the historical aspects of the bible and the church.
He married Janette Watson on May 10, 1950 and they had two girls; Denise born in 1954 and Lisa in 1957. He was a loving and devoted grandfather to Denise's children; Amanda and Scott Etheridge. Janette died in 1992 and is waiting to be rejoined with him in their shared plot.
In 2013 he met and married Shirly Browder Burns, who took on the role as loving caregiver in the last few months of his life.
He is preceded in death by his first wife, Janette Burns, his father and mother, two sisters, and his daughter, Denise.
He is survived by his wife, Shirly Burns, his daughter and son-in-law, Lisa Burns and Tim Jones, his grandchildren; Amanda and Scott Etheridge, two great- grandchildren, two sisters, nieces and nephews.
Visit www.maconmmp.com to express condolences.
Macon Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery has charge of the arrangements.