Melvin D. Burns, 95, longtime rural Texhoma resident passed away early Sunday, October 28, 2018 at the Moore Co. Hospital in Dumas, Texas.
The son of Everett C. and Grace Eletha (Crone) Burns, Melvin Douglas was born November 22, 1922 in Texas County, Oklahoma NW of Texhoma. Melvin was raised on the family homeplace and attended the Texhoma school system, graduating with the Texhoma Class of 1940. He then attended Panhandle A&M College for a brief time before enlisting in the Army Air Force cadet training.
Melvin received intensive flight and ground school training at various military airfields before graduating as a Second Lieutenant in March of 1944. After being awarded his wings and gold bars, he continued fighter pilot training in P-40's at Thomasville, Georgia. Melvin was then sent to the 15th Air Force in Italy where he flew the P-51 Mustang fighter in combat, completing fifty-six combat missions, destroying three enemy aircraft and damaging several others on enemy airfields. As a First Lieutenant he was flight leader of four planes, squadron leader of eighteen planes and on occasion, group leader of fifty-four planes while on missions against the enemy. Following the defeat of Germany, he was returned to the States and offered a military discharge which he refused because of the ongoing Pacific war. He remained in active flying until the war ended and left military service on October 13, 1945.
Following his honorable discharge, Melvin returned to rural Texhoma for a few years before moving to Portales, NM, to California and then to Clovis, NM. Melvin and Barbara (Gunn) Cannon were united in marriage on January 1, 1974 in Clovis. They made Clovis their home for several years before returning to the Texhoma area, where they have lived for the past 25 years. Melvin worked as a farmer and as a rural mail carrier. He was also a member of the Texhoma First Christian Church.
He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant daughter, Vivian Burns; one son, Brian Burns; two brothers: Earl and E.C. Burns; and three sisters: Marion Thrasher, Geneva Clark and Erma Thrasher.
Survivors include his loving wife, Barbara Burns of the home; children: Larry Burns and wife, Lucy of Irrigon, Oregon, Greg Burns and wife, Karen of Clovis, New Mexico, Stephannie Clark and husband, Taylor of Texhoma, Oklahoma and Dennis Cannon of Ruidoso, New Mexico; seven grandchildren and fifteen great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be conducted Thursday afternoon, November 1st at 2:00 p.m. at the Texhoma First Christian Church with Pastor Matt Maples and Melvin's grandsons, Brian Clark and Cory Burns officiating. Interment with military honors will follow at the Elmhurst Cemetery in Guymon. Services are under the care of the Bunch – Roberts Funeral Home of Guymon.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Texhoma First Christian Church or the Portales Christian Children's Home. Memorials will be accepted at the Bunch – Roberts Funeral Home, PO Box 1112, Guymon, OK 73942. Friends can sign the online guestbook and leave condolences at www.bunchroberts.com.
The son of Everett C. and Grace Eletha (Crone) Burns, Melvin Douglas was born November 22, 1922 in Texas County, Oklahoma NW of Texhoma. Melvin was raised on the family homeplace and attended the Texhoma school system, graduating with the Texhoma Class of 1940. He then attended Panhandle A&M College for a brief time before enlisting in the Army Air Force cadet training.
Melvin received intensive flight and ground school training at various military airfields before graduating as a Second Lieutenant in March of 1944. After being awarded his wings and gold bars, he continued fighter pilot training in P-40's at Thomasville, Georgia. Melvin was then sent to the 15th Air Force in Italy where he flew the P-51 Mustang fighter in combat, completing fifty-six combat missions, destroying three enemy aircraft and damaging several others on enemy airfields. As a First Lieutenant he was flight leader of four planes, squadron leader of eighteen planes and on occasion, group leader of fifty-four planes while on missions against the enemy. Following the defeat of Germany, he was returned to the States and offered a military discharge which he refused because of the ongoing Pacific war. He remained in active flying until the war ended and left military service on October 13, 1945.
Following his honorable discharge, Melvin returned to rural Texhoma for a few years before moving to Portales, NM, to California and then to Clovis, NM. Melvin and Barbara (Gunn) Cannon were united in marriage on January 1, 1974 in Clovis. They made Clovis their home for several years before returning to the Texhoma area, where they have lived for the past 25 years. Melvin worked as a farmer and as a rural mail carrier. He was also a member of the Texhoma First Christian Church.
He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant daughter, Vivian Burns; one son, Brian Burns; two brothers: Earl and E.C. Burns; and three sisters: Marion Thrasher, Geneva Clark and Erma Thrasher.
Survivors include his loving wife, Barbara Burns of the home; children: Larry Burns and wife, Lucy of Irrigon, Oregon, Greg Burns and wife, Karen of Clovis, New Mexico, Stephannie Clark and husband, Taylor of Texhoma, Oklahoma and Dennis Cannon of Ruidoso, New Mexico; seven grandchildren and fifteen great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be conducted Thursday afternoon, November 1st at 2:00 p.m. at the Texhoma First Christian Church with Pastor Matt Maples and Melvin's grandsons, Brian Clark and Cory Burns officiating. Interment with military honors will follow at the Elmhurst Cemetery in Guymon. Services are under the care of the Bunch – Roberts Funeral Home of Guymon.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Texhoma First Christian Church or the Portales Christian Children's Home. Memorials will be accepted at the Bunch – Roberts Funeral Home, PO Box 1112, Guymon, OK 73942. Friends can sign the online guestbook and leave condolences at www.bunchroberts.com.
Melvin D. Burns, 95, longtime rural Texhoma resident passed away early Sunday, October 28, 2018 at the Moore Co. Hospital in Dumas, Texas.
The son of Everett C. and Grace Eletha (Crone) Burns, Melvin Douglas was born November 22, 1922 in Texas County, Oklahoma NW of Texhoma. Melvin was raised on the family homeplace and attended the Texhoma school system, graduating with the Texhoma Class of 1940. He then attended Panhandle A&M College for a brief time before enlisting in the Army Air Force cadet training.
Melvin received intensive flight and ground school training at various military airfields before graduating as a Second Lieutenant in March of 1944. After being awarded his wings and gold bars, he continued fighter pilot training in P-40's at Thomasville, Georgia. Melvin was then sent to the 15th Air Force in Italy where he flew the P-51 Mustang fighter in combat, completing fifty-six combat missions, destroying three enemy aircraft and damaging several others on enemy airfields. As a First Lieutenant he was flight leader of four planes, squadron leader of eighteen planes and on occasion, group leader of fifty-four planes while on missions against the enemy. Following the defeat of Germany, he was returned to the States and offered a military discharge which he refused because of the ongoing Pacific war. He remained in active flying until the war ended and left military service on October 13, 1945.
Following his honorable discharge, Melvin returned to rural Texhoma for a few years before moving to Portales, NM, to California and then to Clovis, NM. Melvin and Barbara (Gunn) Cannon were united in marriage on January 1, 1974 in Clovis. They made Clovis their home for several years before returning to the Texhoma area, where they have lived for the past 25 years. Melvin worked as a farmer and as a rural mail carrier. He was also a member of the Texhoma First Christian Church.
He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant daughter, Vivian Burns; one son, Brian Burns; two brothers: Earl and E.C. Burns; and three sisters: Marion Thrasher, Geneva Clark and Erma Thrasher.
Survivors include his loving wife, Barbara Burns of the home; children: Larry Burns and wife, Lucy of Irrigon, Oregon, Greg Burns and wife, Karen of Clovis, New Mexico, Stephannie Clark and husband, Taylor of Texhoma, Oklahoma and Dennis Cannon of Ruidoso, New Mexico; seven grandchildren and fifteen great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be conducted Thursday afternoon, November 1st at 2:00 p.m. at the Texhoma First Christian Church with Pastor Matt Maples and Melvin's grandsons, Brian Clark and Cory Burns officiating. Interment with military honors will follow at the Elmhurst Cemetery in Guymon. Services are under the care of the Bunch – Roberts Funeral Home of Guymon.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Texhoma First Christian Church or the Portales Christian Children's Home. Memorials will be accepted at the Bunch – Roberts Funeral Home, PO Box 1112, Guymon, OK 73942. Friends can sign the online guestbook and leave condolences at www.bunchroberts.com.
The son of Everett C. and Grace Eletha (Crone) Burns, Melvin Douglas was born November 22, 1922 in Texas County, Oklahoma NW of Texhoma. Melvin was raised on the family homeplace and attended the Texhoma school system, graduating with the Texhoma Class of 1940. He then attended Panhandle A&M College for a brief time before enlisting in the Army Air Force cadet training.
Melvin received intensive flight and ground school training at various military airfields before graduating as a Second Lieutenant in March of 1944. After being awarded his wings and gold bars, he continued fighter pilot training in P-40's at Thomasville, Georgia. Melvin was then sent to the 15th Air Force in Italy where he flew the P-51 Mustang fighter in combat, completing fifty-six combat missions, destroying three enemy aircraft and damaging several others on enemy airfields. As a First Lieutenant he was flight leader of four planes, squadron leader of eighteen planes and on occasion, group leader of fifty-four planes while on missions against the enemy. Following the defeat of Germany, he was returned to the States and offered a military discharge which he refused because of the ongoing Pacific war. He remained in active flying until the war ended and left military service on October 13, 1945.
Following his honorable discharge, Melvin returned to rural Texhoma for a few years before moving to Portales, NM, to California and then to Clovis, NM. Melvin and Barbara (Gunn) Cannon were united in marriage on January 1, 1974 in Clovis. They made Clovis their home for several years before returning to the Texhoma area, where they have lived for the past 25 years. Melvin worked as a farmer and as a rural mail carrier. He was also a member of the Texhoma First Christian Church.
He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant daughter, Vivian Burns; one son, Brian Burns; two brothers: Earl and E.C. Burns; and three sisters: Marion Thrasher, Geneva Clark and Erma Thrasher.
Survivors include his loving wife, Barbara Burns of the home; children: Larry Burns and wife, Lucy of Irrigon, Oregon, Greg Burns and wife, Karen of Clovis, New Mexico, Stephannie Clark and husband, Taylor of Texhoma, Oklahoma and Dennis Cannon of Ruidoso, New Mexico; seven grandchildren and fifteen great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be conducted Thursday afternoon, November 1st at 2:00 p.m. at the Texhoma First Christian Church with Pastor Matt Maples and Melvin's grandsons, Brian Clark and Cory Burns officiating. Interment with military honors will follow at the Elmhurst Cemetery in Guymon. Services are under the care of the Bunch – Roberts Funeral Home of Guymon.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Texhoma First Christian Church or the Portales Christian Children's Home. Memorials will be accepted at the Bunch – Roberts Funeral Home, PO Box 1112, Guymon, OK 73942. Friends can sign the online guestbook and leave condolences at www.bunchroberts.com.
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