Robert Wayne Burnop

1945 - 2025

Robert Wayne Burnop was born on August 4, 1945 in Tyler, Texas. He was the oldest child of Robert Millard Burnop and Shirley Mae Luebke Burnop. Wayne was baptized January 30, 1949 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Tyler, Texas. He was confirmed in the Lutheran faith at Trinity on May 17, 1959 by Pastor Theiss. His confirmation verses were Hebrews 13:5 and Revelation 2:10. He passed away under medical care in Fort Worth, Texas on January 18, 2025.

Growing up in Tyler, Wayne attended Birdwell Elementary, Hogg Middle School, Robert E. Lee High School, and Tyler Junior College. He played trombone in the band from middle school through junior college. Wayne's first jobs were in assembly, and he was a draftsman at a manufacturing company where his father was a tool and die maker.

Wayne graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in January 1968 with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering. He then worked for a chemical polymer plant in Longview, Texas. He felt drawn back to school for a Master's Degree. Otherwise, he never would have met his future bride at a fellowship volleyball game sponsored by University Lutheran Church. After receiving his Master's Degree, Wayne worked at an inorganic chemical plant in Corpus Christi, Texas.

On July 29, 1972, Wayne was married to Nancy Jane Sander at University Lutheran Church by Pastor Charles H. Born. They lived in Corpus Christi for two years before moving to Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. Wayne worked at a refinery, and he and Nancy were able to spend weekends snorkeling and traveling to other islands. They returned to Austin in 1977, three months before their daughter was born, to ensure proper medical care for her.

Through Nancy's contacts in Austin, Wayne got a job at the Texas Air Control Board. He worked for the state, and for consulting firms off and on. Then he decided to start his own consulting business, Air Quality Services, from home. Wayne tried not to work full time to allow for volunteer work. He enjoyed doing whatever he could to help others.

After Nancy's mother died in 2017, they moved to Benbrook, Texas to be near their daughter's family. When they moved, their grandsons were 8, 5, and 2 years old, but they grew quickly. Wayne enjoyed reading books to them and playing games together. In his retirement, he liked to play Wordle and edit books for authors.

Wayne grew up in the church, but didn't have a heart knowledge of Jesus as his Savior until he was over 30 years old. His primary spiritual gift was serving others, and that gave him great joy. Some of his favorite things were singer Buddy Holly, the color blue, and vacationing in Colorado.

Wayne is survived by his daughter, Robyn Alane Burnop Walsh with husband Timothy, and brother Thomas Burnop with wife Sandra. He was blessed with three grandsons: Nathaniel, Nicholas, and Nehemiah. He also had numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, uncles, aunts, and many friends. He was preceded in death by his loving wife Nancy Jane Sander Burnop, his parents, his brother James, and his sister Sharon.

A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. on February 8th at Christ Lutheran Church, 4409 Sycamore School Drive, Fort Worth, Texas, 76133. Memorial donations may be made to Christ Lutheran Church (Senior Share, Food Pantry, or the Prayer Garden).