Bernard Burns, Jr.

Bernard Joseph Burns Jr., 84, of Boonsboro, Maryland passed away on Tuesday, January 25, 2011 at the Meritus Medical Ceneter in Hagerstown.

Born on June 18, 1926, he was the son of the late Bernard Joseph and Elizabeth Marie (Jones) Burns. His wife, Helen Marie (Burnside) Burns preceded him in death in March, 2000.

Mr. Burns was a U.S. Army Veteran of World War II and the Korean Conflict, serving in the South Pacific and the Far East, repectfully. During World War II, Mr. Burns saw action in the Philippine Islands (Northern Luzon Campaign). He earned the Combat Medical Badge while serving with the 33rd Infantry Division and was also awarded the Bronze Medal Star.

He was a 1957 graduate of the Univeristy of Maryland, College Park, earning a Bachelor's Degree in Education. He also attended the American Univeristy in Washington, D.C. where he pursued studies relating to Corrections.

Mr. Burns was employed by the Maryand Correctional Training Center in Hagerstown, Maryland, where he was in charge of the Classification Department. He retired in 1988 after thirty years of service.

Mr. Burns was a member of St. James Catholic Church in Boonsboro, where he served as a lector for a number of years. He also served on several parish councils and was an usher. He was also a member of the Catholic War Veteran Post #1895 in Hagerstown and the Clopper-Michael American Legion Post #10 in Boonsboro. During his time serving in the Catholic War Veterans, he was a past commander and a department representative at the Veterans Affairs Center in Martinsburg, West Virginia. In addition, he was a member of the 33rd Infantry Division Association and was a member of the Tri-State Catholic Golden Age in Hagerstown, Maryland.

He is survived by his two sons, Bernard J. Burns, III of Arlington, Virginia. and John Timothy Burns and his wife Heather of Boonsboro; his two sisters, Teresa Marie Byers of Columbia, Maryland and Mary Alice Wurdeman of Rockville, Maryland; and his three grandchildren, Seamus, Liam, and Mallory Burns. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents and his wife, Mr. Burns was preceded in death by one brother, John Michael Burns.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, January 29, 2011 at St. James Catholic Church, 121 North Main Street, Boonsboro, Maryland, 21713. Msgr. Alfred E. Smith will officiate. Burial will follow at Cedar Lawn Memorial Park in Hagerstown.  Military Honors will be rendered by the Clopper-Michael American Legion Post 10.

The family will receive friends from 6 - 8 p.m. on Friday, January 28, 2011 at the Bast-Stauffer Funeral Home, 7606 Old National Pike in Boonsboro.

Memorial donations may be made to the St. James Catholic Church.