Virgil Thomas Burns, 90, of Springfield, Missouri, formerly of Dexter, New Mexico, passed away Monday, April 15, 2013. He was born March 12, 1923, in Pittsburg, Oklahoma, to John T. and E. Rutonse (Walker) Burns.
Virgil served in the U.S. Army during WWII receiving numerous medals. He retired from the New Mexico Fish and Wildlife Service where he had worked as a trapper. Virgil was a Christian; an excellent craftsman and enjoyed repairing fiddles, a perfectionist in everything. He was an accomplished western swing fiddler and won numerous trophies in fiddle competitions. He was an avid collector, collecting Indian arrowheads, metates and manos, fiddles and…friends. Family, musicians, and his many, many friends loved him as he loved them. He had a very unique and playful personality often referred to as Flip, Uncle Flip, Daddy Virgil, Pop, Daddy and Dad.
Virgil was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Bob Burns, Roswell, NM, and Jim Burns, Dexter, NM. He is survived by his beloved wife of 66 years, Armel (Hass) Burns of the home; a son, Russel Burns and his wife, Belma of Springfield, MO; three grandsons, Russel Burns and his wife, Melissa, Springfield, MO, Gerald Burns, Beverly Hills, CA, and Ruben Apodaca and wife, Deanna, Hampton, VA; great-grandchildren, Angelia Burns, Springfield, MO, Kyrsten Apodaca, Hampton, VA; and great-great-granddaughter, Kira-Mea Apodaca; a brother, Royce Burns, Roswell, NM, and four sisters, Willora Bryant, Hagerman, NM, Veta Vaughn, Dexter, NM, Neta Burns, Dexter, NM, and Sue Arnold and her husband, Ronny, of Roswell, NM.
Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m., Wednesday, April 17, 2013, in Greenlawn Funeral Home North, 3506 N. National, Springfield, MO, with Rev. James Crowson officiating. Burial will follow in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens.
The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, April 16, 2013, in the funeral home. Online condolences may be left at www.greenlawnfuneralhome.com