Ronald W. Burns

Ronald Wynde Burns died peacefully, surrounded by the people he called family who loved and cared for him during his final years. He was 90 years old. Ron entered into nursing care in 2020 with advanced dementia brought on by some minor strokes about 30 years prior. It was a long and gradual decline. Never afraid to learn something new, Ron developed coping mechanisms to help him through. He began calling women “dear” and men “sir” as he lost the ability to recall names. He made peace with his diagnosis so he could focus on what he could control and avoid being plagued with anger over what he couldn't. He avoided the fear that can sometimes accompany dementia by ensuring he had trustworthy people looking after him.

The nurses and staff who knew Ron grew fond of him. He maintained a generally pleasant demeanor despite the loss of his faculties, on most occasions greeting people with a jolly “Good morning!” no matter the time of day. Ron adapted well to living in the group setting, where he especially enjoyed walking through the gardens. He spent many a day there, soaking up the warm Colorado sunshine.

Ron grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina, the son of Edward Clarence and Kathleen Josephine (Butler Watson) Burns. Eager to be done with school, Ron moved across the Mason-Dixon line to Pennsylvania when he was 17, looking for work. He heard that he could get a desk job in the north making more money than he was making in construction in the south. He didn't believe it. How could the Yankees have won the war if they were dumb enough to pay that much? He took the chance, and found work at Lukens Steel Company in Pennsylvania. Barely 18 when he started working there, his co-workers called him “Reb” due to his southern roots. An ambitious young man, he quickly progressed from the electrical department to the personnel office, and his first desk job. Ron retired from Lukens with 42 years of service.

Before settling into marriage, Ron enlisted in the United States Army. He served in the demilitarized zone in Korea, intercepting Morse Code messages from the north. During his enlistment, Ron took a leave to be married to Joan Shaw of Parkesburg, Pennsylvania. They were wed for 58 years prior to her death in early 2017.

Anyone who ever visited them in Parkesburg could see the care Ron put into the yard and gardens. Never shying away from physical labor, he turned the back yard into a sanctuary of birds, flowers, shrubs, chimes and shade. Joan would design it and he would create it. There was an inviting deck and a glass of sweet tea waiting for you.

Ron loved being outside. He planted a vegetable garden annually with 3 dozen tomato plants and a few varieties of peppers which his wife, Joan would process into gallons of pasta sauce each year. Always a joker, Ron was known to say, “I hope the devil serves pasta with red sauce.” It was a favorite of his.

Ron believed in serving his community. During his time in Pennsylvania, he was a member of the Jaycees, the Lions Club, and Ascension Episcopal Church in Parkesburg. Ron was also an avid blood donor, having given multiple gallons to the American Red Cross over a few decades. 

A simple memorial service was held at the Bruce McCandless Veterans Living Center. 

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