Rev. Elbert Oliver Burns (Lebanon)'s Obituary
Rev. Elbert Oliver Burns, son of Dewitt and Florence Burns, was born January 12, 1925, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He departed this life Friday, October 7, 2016, in his home, near Eldridge, Missouri, at the age of ninety-one years, eight months, and twenty-five days.
On December 8, 1949, he was united in marriage to Anna Lou Adams, and to this union two daughters were born.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Oliver; and two sisters, Alice, and an infant.
Elbert is survived by his loving wife of sixty-six years, Anna, of the home; two daughters, Linda Lou Roberts, and her husband, Mike, of Imperial, Missouri, and Patricia Ann LaRose, and her husband, Kenneth, of Eldridge, Missouri; five grandchildren, Rick, Steven, Michael, Brian, and Jana; thirteen great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; a brother, Ray Burns, of Wichita, Kansas; a sister, Pearl, of the State of Arkansas; several nieces and nephews; as well as a host of other relatives and many friends.
He was born and raised in Oklahoma, and then entered the military as a young man. He served his country faithfully in the United States Army from February 29, 1944, until July 7, 1945, and was part of the European African Middle Eastern Theater during World War II. He was wounded while in combat and received the Purple Heart and Bronze Star awards. He then made his home in Kansas for awhile before moving to Tennessee where he attended Bible College. He began serving in the ministry and was affiliated with the Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee branch). Through the next fifty years, he served in various churches in Kansas, Missouri, and Iowa. After retiring, he and Anna made their home near Eldridge, Missouri.
Elbert was a prayer warrior, had served numerous congregations and had spent many hours on his knees praying with his church families. He had previously pastored at Trinity Full Gospel Church in Eldridge, Missouri. He possessed a pastor’s heart and was patient, kind and humble in every way.
In his early years, he enjoyed fishing and hunting, and always liked caring for his home and yard. His family was very important to him and he especially enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren.
Elbert was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, great-great-grandfather, brother, uncle, and was a caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate his life and his accomplishments and know that he will be remembered as a loving family man, a devoted minister and pastor, and as a kind and caring friend to many.
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