PRESQUE ISLE – Earl O. Burner, 92, a resident of Presque Isle since August 1999, died Saturday, Nov. 11, 2006, peacefully at his home. He was born Dec. 7, 1913, near Philippi, W.Va., a son of the late Thomas Orville and Delta Jane (Schoonover) Burner. On Sept. 7, 1940, he married the love of his life, Velma Mace, who survives him. Mr. Burner was in the CCC, Rupert, W.Va., and graduated from Alderson-Broaddus College, Philippi, W.Va. He served in the U.S. Navy in World War II and the Korean War as an intelligence officer. He had been a West Virginia state police officer and retired from the CSX railroad in 1983. He was active in church, Kiwanis, PTA and many other community organizations in his former residences of Elkins, W.Va., and Cumberland, Md. He and Velma were avid bridge players and had been members of the square dancers and newcomers. They enjoyed traveling and taking cruises together. At the time of his stroke in January 1999, he was serving as president of the Bel Air, Md., neighborhood watch, which he had helped found. He was an earnest, kind and decent man with great good humor, a loving husband, father and grandfather and those qualities blessed his family even through his final hours. Survivors, in addition to his wife, are two daughters and sons-in-law, Brenda and David Ericsson of Tucson, Ariz., and Pamela and Robert Palm of Presque Isle; one son and daughter-in-law, Dr. David and Janice Burner of Booneville, Ark.; grandchildren, Jennifer Whetstone and husband, Stephen, of Hollywood, Md., Robert Ericsson and wife, Katherine, of Roanoke, Va., Hillary Lisnik and husband, Eric, of Boulder City, Nev., Gregory Palm and friend, Catherine Boone, of Presque Isle, Erica Mattingly, Andrea Burner and Grant Burner, all of Booneville, Ark.; great-grandchildren, Emily and Noah Whetstone, Sophie and Jack Ericsson and Anthony Mattingly; several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by all of his siblings; younger brothers, Carl, Glenn and Ralph. A private gathering in Earl’s memory will be held at the family home. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions in his name be made to the Aroostook Area Agency on Aging, for The Adult Daycare Program only, 33 Davis St., Presque Isle, ME 04769. Arrangements in the care of Duncan-Graves Funeral Home, Presque Isle.
EARL O. BURNER
