Virginia May Burns-Wilson

VIRGINIA MAY (THOMAS) BURNS-WILSON, passed peacefully to eternal life on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2016, at Golden Years Homestead. Born Aug. 5, 1921, in Fort Wayne, she was the eldest daughter of Walter A. and May Thomas. She graduated from North Side High School, class of 1939, and was a member of the National Honor Society. She was married 54 years to Eldon V. Burns and they had five children, Patricia, Thomas, David, Paul, and James. After Eldon’s death in 1994, she was married to Robert Wilson for 18 years, until his death in 2013. After high school, she worked in payroll at the General Electric until her first child was born. She then worked out of her home as a Notary Public, sold wedding invitations (Burns Wedding Services), and became a Shaklee Distributor in 1975. She enjoyed meeting people, and built many friendships over the years. She was an active member of the Sherman Street Church of God, and later at Three Rivers Wesleyan Church. Virginia was strong supporter of Child Evangelism and held Good News Bible Clubs in her home for many years. She also supported the Youth for Christ Ministry and belonged to the Rescue Mission’s Ladies Auxiliary. She was a woman of strong faith and was often heard to say, “God is so good to me”. Virginia was a five time cancer survivor. As a loyal Republican, she worked many years at the election polls. She enjoyed spending time at her lake cottage on Lake James, and loved to fish. She also enjoyed doing puzzles, and playing cards. She loved to travel and visited most of the United States, plus 23 countries. She is survived by daughter, Patricia (Manuel) Paitan; sons, Thomas (Marcia), Dr. David (Gayle) and Paul (Joan), all of Fort Wayne, and James Burns of Titusville, Fla.; granddaughters, Molly (Vel) Brooks of Georgia and Erica (David) Siegelin of Indianapolis; grandsons, Jefferi (Mary), Timothi (Heather), Joshua (Allie), Jason (Amanda), Michael (Kristy), and Brandon (Whitney), all of Fort Wayne, Jonathan (Stephanie) of Oregon and Anthony ‘Tony” (Rafaella) Burns of Florida; great-grandchildren, Amanda, Brittney, Christopher, Zacheri, Payton, Jayden, and Elizabeth, all of Fort Wayne, and Jordyn, Devyn and Jadyn, all of Georgia, and Lyla and Larrisa, both of Florida, and Elise of Oregon; brother-in-law, Roger Van Camp; and sister-in-law, Loretta Ann Thomas; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Walter and May Thomas; brother, Walter, (Bud) Thomas; and sisters, Wilma VanCamp and Evelyn (Orville) Einsiedel; husbands, Eldon V. Burns and Robert Wilson; and nephew, Donald Van Camp. Funeral service is 11 a.m. Monday, Dec. 19, 2016 with calling 1 hour prior, at C.M. Sloan & Sons Funeral Home, 1324 N. Wells St. Calling also from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016, at the funeral home. Memorials to Youth for Christ.