An officer in a longtime family-owned West Virginia trucking company died recently.
John Barlow Burns, 61, of Marlinton, passed away Jan. 1, at the University of Virginia Hospital in Charlottesville, Virginia.
At the time of his death, Mr. Burns was president of Burns Motor Freight and was a former member of the West Virginia Trucking Association.
The company was started in 1949 when Fred C. Burns Sr. bought his first truck, a 1948 LJ Mack. It grew over the years but has always been family-owned, and loyal customers of Mack Trucks.
Mr. Burns was born on Nov. 12, 1964, in Marlinton. He graduated from Pocahontas County High School in 1983 and later earned an associate degree in business from Fairmont State University.
He was a faithful member of the Marlinton United Methodist Church, and served the Marlinton Volunteer Fire Department for more than 30 years.
Mr. Burms is survived by his wife of 39 years, Denise Elza Burns; his daughter, Lisa Herold and her husband, Sam; his son, Stephen Burns and his wife, Brooke; his grandchildren, Andrew and Amelia Herold and Parker and Hadley Burns, all of Marlinton; his sister, Anne Keeler and her husband, Greg, of Staunton, Virginia; his brother, Doug Burns and his wife, Stephanie, of Marlinton; his parents, Fred Burns Jr. and Carolyn Burns; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. on Jan. 11, at the Marlinton United Methodist Church, with Pastors Carmen LaRue and Julian Rittenhouse officiating.
Visitation will be held from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. prior to the service at the church.
In lieu of flowers, donations of sympathy may be made to the Marlinton United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 54, Marlinton, West Virgina 24954.
