Dr. Charles Minton Burns

A memorial service for Dr. Charles Burns, 93 of Giddings, is scheduled for Friday, July 22, 2022 at the First United Methodist Church in Giddings at 1:30 p.m. with Pastor Patricia Ann Wehn-Glowski officiating. A private family burial in the Giddings City Cemetery will be held at a later date. Visitation will be held on Thursday, July 21, 2022 from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Phillips and Luckey Funeral Home in Giddings. The family will be present from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Dr. Charles Minton Burns was a 3rd generation physician and surgeon. He was a beloved family doctor who cared for generations of families in Lee County as well as surrounding counties throughout Texas. He died on July 1, 2022 at his home in Giddings, Texas, following a several week stay in St. David's Hospital in Austin.
He was a dedicated, old-fashioned, yet progressive doctor. He was always reading up on cutting edge medical developments. Late night emergencies and delivering babies (who don't comply with office hours) were just part of the job. He might have complained about never getting any sleep, but never hesitated to run out the door when the hospital called with an emergency.
Being born on October 7, 1928, in Jonesboro, Arkansas, was not the best of timing for this Burns baby, as the flu epidemic had just swept the nation, the stock market crashed a year later, and following his family's move to Texas (Giddings), he experienced the Great Depression firsthand as a teenager. These challenging times encouraged his determination, dedication, and compassion for the needy.
He attended Atlanta Georgia Tech School and Giddings High School in Giddings, Texas, graduating on May 30, 1946. He went to Blinn College in Brenham, Texas from 1946-1947 and then transferred to and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin on June 1, 1951 with a Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in chemistry. It was during this time he elected to pursue a career in medicine which would ultimately become his life's vocation. He was accepted to the University of Texas Medial School at Galveston, graduating on June 1, 1956 with his Doctorate of Medicine, successfully completing his Internship and Rotating Internship at Bexar City County Hospital (Robert B. Green) in San Antonio, Texas, on June 1, 1957.
Dr. Burns set up his first clinic practice in Giddings, Texas with privileges at Lee Memorial Hospital and serving at Deaton Hospital in Galena Park, Texas until 1959. He continued his Giddings practice until 1994 and with Lee Memorial Hospital until its closing in 1993. He also provided services at Holy Cross Hospital and Breckenridge Hospital in Austin, Texas from 1968 -1969. During his association with Lee Memorial Hospital, Dr. Burns served as Chief of Staff, Director of Emergency Services, and for a short time Interim Administrator.
He served as the Medical Director of the Texas State Home & School (Texas Youth Department) at Giddings being employed by UTMB from 1994 - 2006. At the same time, he was employed by The Southwest Medical Associates and provided emergency room coverage on some weekends for various Texas hospitals from 1994 - 2001. UTMB also appointed him as the Medical Director at the Hobby Unit in Marlin, Texas from 2001 - 2006 and then transferred him for service to the Unit at Cuero, Texas until April 2014, at which time he reluctantly retired.
Over the years he never stopped learning. He could talk at great length about music, especially opera, or genealogy. He also enjoyed gardening, flying his plane, sailing on Lake Travis, and the many years of tennis, golf, and oil painting. Dr. Burns played the trumpet, organ, and the bagpipes (very loud!).
He was preceded in death by his oldest son, Robert Brookfield Burns III; brother, Robert Brookfield Burns II; father, Robert Brookfield Burns, and his mother, Mary Alice Minton Burns.
Dr. Burns is survived by his wife, Cathy Lee Burns; sons, Joel Burns, James Burns and wife, Natalie, and Troy Wittenbach and wife, Amy; granddaughter, Tracy Burns; grandson, Byron Burns; and great granddaughter, Mia Oliver; niece, Kimberly Dismukes and husband, James; nephews, Charles "Chuck" Knipstein and wife, Tami, and Michael Knipstein and wife, Heather.