George Dale Burns was a Valentine's Day present, born February 14, 1948, at the Mooreland, Oklahoma, hospital. He passed away on June 3, 2021, at his home in Vici, Oklahoma, following a long illness. He was the elder son of Frank and Leora Burns of Mutual, Oklahoma, and the first grandchild of George and Zetta Landon of Mutual. His paternal grandparents were Etta Burns Jones of Vici, and the late William Burns. Soon after his birth, his parents moved to the Vici community onto a farm they had purchased in 1947.
George grew up in the Vici community, starting school here in 1954 in the post-World War II baby- boom with the largest class to ever be enrolled in the Vici School System. He was Valedictorian of his junior high class, and graduated high school in 1966. Throughout high school he was active in FFA and in his senior year was chosen as a State Farmer. He was a lifelong member of the First Baptist Church of Vici, making his confession of faith at a young age. He was ordained as a deacon there in 1978.
George attended Oklahoma Panhandle State University in Goodwell, Oklahoma, drawn by two factors—their western Oklahoma culture, and their outstanding Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) Program. During his freshmen year, he won the Bull Riding Championship at their rodeo, a buckle he wore proudly throughout his life. As for the ROTC program, when he was a freshman, all male students were required to be in the program. This was at the height of the Vietnam conflict. When the draft numbers were pulled for 1948 births, George's was #4. George liked the military lifestyle and elected to go Advanced ROTC, winning numerous medals and commendations along the way. He did his basic training in Infantry at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant at Goodwell in 1969.
He graduated college in December, 1970, with a major in Elementary Education, and double minors in Earth Science and Military History. He loved the sciences and was a laboratory assistant throughout college. Upon graduation, he became the property of the US Army and was immediately assigned to Ft. Benning, Georgia, and its Infantry School. He reported for duty there in early May, 1971. This assignment was short-lived. In 1971, the army was considering the idea of ending the draft, due to the vast unpopularity of the Vietnam conflict, the rioting, the protests, the Kent State deaths, etc. They needed to trial a program, and George was offered an opportunity to return home, keep his commission and do eight years in the Reserves. Not having a burning desire to see Southeast Asia, George elected to return home. He continued to serve in the reserves for many years, doing two weeks of camp every summer at various based across the U. S. He retired at the rank of Captain.
Upon his return home in the fall of 1971, George was hired as a teacher in the Vici Public Schools. He taught here for eleven years, always in the upper grades, emphasizing in science. After leaving Vici, he taught the rest of his career in the Sharon-Mutual school district. George enjoyed teaching young minds about science, and he had a profound affect on many young people in these communities. He also served as President of the Vici alumni Association in 1975, and was a 50 year member of the Vici Masonic Lodge #465.
George's first marriage produced two children, Julie Ann in 1971, and William Dale in 1974. On July 20, 1991, he was united in marriage to Sharon Way of Prague, Oklahoma. They were introduced by friends, and were drawn together by their love of teaching young minds. They both continued to teach after they were married, George at Sharon-Mutual, Sharon at Woodward, and worked together tirelessly on the Burns Bar 7 Ranch here in Vici.
George loved living in western Oklahoma, and loved his family dearly, especially his children and granddaughters. He enjoyed talking to the adults he had taught as kids, and watching them achieve their dreams.
George was a man of many talents.
Dedicated Teacher
Family Man
Soldier
Cowboy
Rancher
Farmer
Baptist Deacon
Master and 32nd Degree Mason
Singer (not often talked about, but the man had an incredible voice)
George was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Leora Burns of Vici, and by his in-laws Ernest and Margaret Way of Prague; by his son-in-law Robert (Bo) Cason; by all his aunts and uncles, and several of his Burns cousins.
George is survived by his wife, Sharon, of the home; his children, Julie Cason and her two daughters, Callie and Cecilia, of Oklahoma City and Woodward, respectively, and William Burns and his wife Natasha, and their daughter, Sophia, of Vici; by his brother Jim, and wife Reginna, of Des Moines, Washington; by his bothers-in-law Bob Way (Joni) of Dallas, TX, Rick Way (Leslie) of Norman, OK, two sisters-in-law Debbie Stubsten (Mark) of Fairview, OK, and Ann Way of Norman, Oklahoma. He is also survived by a number of cousins on the Burns side of the family, scattered across the U. S., and by many dear friends and former students in northwest Oklahoma.
George grew up in the Vici community, starting school here in 1954 in the post-World War II baby- boom with the largest class to ever be enrolled in the Vici School System. He was Valedictorian of his junior high class, and graduated high school in 1966. Throughout high school he was active in FFA and in his senior year was chosen as a State Farmer. He was a lifelong member of the First Baptist Church of Vici, making his confession of faith at a young age. He was ordained as a deacon there in 1978.
George attended Oklahoma Panhandle State University in Goodwell, Oklahoma, drawn by two factors—their western Oklahoma culture, and their outstanding Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) Program. During his freshmen year, he won the Bull Riding Championship at their rodeo, a buckle he wore proudly throughout his life. As for the ROTC program, when he was a freshman, all male students were required to be in the program. This was at the height of the Vietnam conflict. When the draft numbers were pulled for 1948 births, George's was #4. George liked the military lifestyle and elected to go Advanced ROTC, winning numerous medals and commendations along the way. He did his basic training in Infantry at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant at Goodwell in 1969.
He graduated college in December, 1970, with a major in Elementary Education, and double minors in Earth Science and Military History. He loved the sciences and was a laboratory assistant throughout college. Upon graduation, he became the property of the US Army and was immediately assigned to Ft. Benning, Georgia, and its Infantry School. He reported for duty there in early May, 1971. This assignment was short-lived. In 1971, the army was considering the idea of ending the draft, due to the vast unpopularity of the Vietnam conflict, the rioting, the protests, the Kent State deaths, etc. They needed to trial a program, and George was offered an opportunity to return home, keep his commission and do eight years in the Reserves. Not having a burning desire to see Southeast Asia, George elected to return home. He continued to serve in the reserves for many years, doing two weeks of camp every summer at various based across the U. S. He retired at the rank of Captain.
Upon his return home in the fall of 1971, George was hired as a teacher in the Vici Public Schools. He taught here for eleven years, always in the upper grades, emphasizing in science. After leaving Vici, he taught the rest of his career in the Sharon-Mutual school district. George enjoyed teaching young minds about science, and he had a profound affect on many young people in these communities. He also served as President of the Vici alumni Association in 1975, and was a 50 year member of the Vici Masonic Lodge #465.
George's first marriage produced two children, Julie Ann in 1971, and William Dale in 1974. On July 20, 1991, he was united in marriage to Sharon Way of Prague, Oklahoma. They were introduced by friends, and were drawn together by their love of teaching young minds. They both continued to teach after they were married, George at Sharon-Mutual, Sharon at Woodward, and worked together tirelessly on the Burns Bar 7 Ranch here in Vici.
George loved living in western Oklahoma, and loved his family dearly, especially his children and granddaughters. He enjoyed talking to the adults he had taught as kids, and watching them achieve their dreams.
George was a man of many talents.
Dedicated Teacher
Family Man
Soldier
Cowboy
Rancher
Farmer
Baptist Deacon
Master and 32nd Degree Mason
Singer (not often talked about, but the man had an incredible voice)
George was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Leora Burns of Vici, and by his in-laws Ernest and Margaret Way of Prague; by his son-in-law Robert (Bo) Cason; by all his aunts and uncles, and several of his Burns cousins.
George is survived by his wife, Sharon, of the home; his children, Julie Cason and her two daughters, Callie and Cecilia, of Oklahoma City and Woodward, respectively, and William Burns and his wife Natasha, and their daughter, Sophia, of Vici; by his brother Jim, and wife Reginna, of Des Moines, Washington; by his bothers-in-law Bob Way (Joni) of Dallas, TX, Rick Way (Leslie) of Norman, OK, two sisters-in-law Debbie Stubsten (Mark) of Fairview, OK, and Ann Way of Norman, Oklahoma. He is also survived by a number of cousins on the Burns side of the family, scattered across the U. S., and by many dear friends and former students in northwest Oklahoma.
George Dale Burns was a Valentine's Day present, born February 14, 1948, at the Mooreland, Oklahoma, hospital. He passed away on June 3, 2021, at his home in Vici, Oklahoma, following a long illness. He was the elder son of Frank and Leora Burns of Mutual, Oklahoma, and the first grandchild of George and Zetta Landon of Mutual. His paternal grandparents were Etta Burns Jones of Vici, and the late William Burns. Soon after his birth, his parents moved to the Vici community onto a farm they had purchased in 1947.
George grew up in the Vici community, starting school here in 1954 in the post-World War II baby- boom with the largest class to ever be enrolled in the Vici School System. He was Valedictorian of his junior high class, and graduated high school in 1966. Throughout high school he was active in FFA and in his senior year was chosen as a State Farmer. He was a lifelong member of the First Baptist Church of Vici, making his confession of faith at a young age. He was ordained as a deacon there in 1978.
George attended Oklahoma Panhandle State University in Goodwell, Oklahoma, drawn by two factors—their western Oklahoma culture, and their outstanding Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) Program. During his freshmen year, he won the Bull Riding Championship at their rodeo, a buckle he wore proudly throughout his life. As for the ROTC program, when he was a freshman, all male students were required to be in the program. This was at the height of the Vietnam conflict. When the draft numbers were pulled for 1948 births, George's was #4. George liked the military lifestyle and elected to go Advanced ROTC, winning numerous medals and commendations along the way. He did his basic training in Infantry at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant at Goodwell in 1969.
He graduated college in December, 1970, with a major in Elementary Education, and double minors in Earth Science and Military History. He loved the sciences and was a laboratory assistant throughout college. Upon graduation, he became the property of the US Army and was immediately assigned to Ft. Benning, Georgia, and its Infantry School. He reported for duty there in early May, 1971. This assignment was short-lived. In 1971, the army was considering the idea of ending the draft, due to the vast unpopularity of the Vietnam conflict, the rioting, the protests, the Kent State deaths, etc. They needed to trial a program, and George was offered an opportunity to return home, keep his commission and do eight years in the Reserves. Not having a burning desire to see Southeast Asia, George elected to return home. He continued to serve in the reserves for many years, doing two weeks of camp every summer at various based across the U. S. He retired at the rank of Captain.
Upon his return home in the fall of 1971, George was hired as a teacher in the Vici Public Schools. He taught here for eleven years, always in the upper grades, emphasizing in science. After leaving Vici, he taught the rest of his career in the Sharon-Mutual school district. George enjoyed teaching young minds about science, and he had a profound affect on many young people in these communities. He also served as President of the Vici alumni Association in 1975, and was a 50 year member of the Vici Masonic Lodge #465.
George's first marriage produced two children, Julie Ann in 1971, and William Dale in 1974. On July 20, 1991, he was united in marriage to Sharon Way of Prague, Oklahoma. They were introduced by friends, and were drawn together by their love of teaching young minds. They both continued to teach after they were married, George at Sharon-Mutual, Sharon at Woodward, and worked together tirelessly on the Burns Bar 7 Ranch here in Vici.
George loved living in western Oklahoma, and loved his family dearly, especially his children and granddaughters. He enjoyed talking to the adults he had taught as kids, and watching them achieve their dreams.
George was a man of many talents.
Dedicated Teacher
Family Man
Soldier
Cowboy
Rancher
Farmer
Baptist Deacon
Master and 32nd Degree Mason
Singer (not often talked about, but the man had an incredible voice)
George was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Leora Burns of Vici, and by his in-laws Ernest and Margaret Way of Prague; by his son-in-law Robert (Bo) Cason; by all his aunts and uncles, and several of his Burns cousins.
George is survived by his wife, Sharon, of the home; his children, Julie Cason and her two daughters, Callie and Cecilia, of Oklahoma City and Woodward, respectively, and William Burns and his wife Natasha, and their daughter, Sophia, of Vici; by his brother Jim, and wife Reginna, of Des Moines, Washington; by his bothers-in-law Bob Way (Joni) of Dallas, TX, Rick Way (Leslie) of Norman, OK, two sisters-in-law Debbie Stubsten (Mark) of Fairview, OK, and Ann Way of Norman, Oklahoma. He is also survived by a number of cousins on the Burns side of the family, scattered across the U. S., and by many dear friends and former students in northwest Oklahoma.
George grew up in the Vici community, starting school here in 1954 in the post-World War II baby- boom with the largest class to ever be enrolled in the Vici School System. He was Valedictorian of his junior high class, and graduated high school in 1966. Throughout high school he was active in FFA and in his senior year was chosen as a State Farmer. He was a lifelong member of the First Baptist Church of Vici, making his confession of faith at a young age. He was ordained as a deacon there in 1978.
George attended Oklahoma Panhandle State University in Goodwell, Oklahoma, drawn by two factors—their western Oklahoma culture, and their outstanding Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) Program. During his freshmen year, he won the Bull Riding Championship at their rodeo, a buckle he wore proudly throughout his life. As for the ROTC program, when he was a freshman, all male students were required to be in the program. This was at the height of the Vietnam conflict. When the draft numbers were pulled for 1948 births, George's was #4. George liked the military lifestyle and elected to go Advanced ROTC, winning numerous medals and commendations along the way. He did his basic training in Infantry at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant at Goodwell in 1969.
He graduated college in December, 1970, with a major in Elementary Education, and double minors in Earth Science and Military History. He loved the sciences and was a laboratory assistant throughout college. Upon graduation, he became the property of the US Army and was immediately assigned to Ft. Benning, Georgia, and its Infantry School. He reported for duty there in early May, 1971. This assignment was short-lived. In 1971, the army was considering the idea of ending the draft, due to the vast unpopularity of the Vietnam conflict, the rioting, the protests, the Kent State deaths, etc. They needed to trial a program, and George was offered an opportunity to return home, keep his commission and do eight years in the Reserves. Not having a burning desire to see Southeast Asia, George elected to return home. He continued to serve in the reserves for many years, doing two weeks of camp every summer at various based across the U. S. He retired at the rank of Captain.
Upon his return home in the fall of 1971, George was hired as a teacher in the Vici Public Schools. He taught here for eleven years, always in the upper grades, emphasizing in science. After leaving Vici, he taught the rest of his career in the Sharon-Mutual school district. George enjoyed teaching young minds about science, and he had a profound affect on many young people in these communities. He also served as President of the Vici alumni Association in 1975, and was a 50 year member of the Vici Masonic Lodge #465.
George's first marriage produced two children, Julie Ann in 1971, and William Dale in 1974. On July 20, 1991, he was united in marriage to Sharon Way of Prague, Oklahoma. They were introduced by friends, and were drawn together by their love of teaching young minds. They both continued to teach after they were married, George at Sharon-Mutual, Sharon at Woodward, and worked together tirelessly on the Burns Bar 7 Ranch here in Vici.
George loved living in western Oklahoma, and loved his family dearly, especially his children and granddaughters. He enjoyed talking to the adults he had taught as kids, and watching them achieve their dreams.
George was a man of many talents.
Dedicated Teacher
Family Man
Soldier
Cowboy
Rancher
Farmer
Baptist Deacon
Master and 32nd Degree Mason
Singer (not often talked about, but the man had an incredible voice)
George was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Leora Burns of Vici, and by his in-laws Ernest and Margaret Way of Prague; by his son-in-law Robert (Bo) Cason; by all his aunts and uncles, and several of his Burns cousins.
George is survived by his wife, Sharon, of the home; his children, Julie Cason and her two daughters, Callie and Cecilia, of Oklahoma City and Woodward, respectively, and William Burns and his wife Natasha, and their daughter, Sophia, of Vici; by his brother Jim, and wife Reginna, of Des Moines, Washington; by his bothers-in-law Bob Way (Joni) of Dallas, TX, Rick Way (Leslie) of Norman, OK, two sisters-in-law Debbie Stubsten (Mark) of Fairview, OK, and Ann Way of Norman, Oklahoma. He is also survived by a number of cousins on the Burns side of the family, scattered across the U. S., and by many dear friends and former students in northwest Oklahoma.
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