Cover photo for William Franklin "B.B." Burns's Obituary
William Franklin "B.B." Burns Profile Photo
William

William Franklin "B.B." Burns

Obituary
William Franklin "B.B."Burns, 88, a veteran of World War II, passed away March 29 at Morning Pointe Assisted Living Facility in Collegedale.

He was born a son of the late Charles and Tennie Walker Burns on Sept. 4, 1926 in Daisy.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife Barbara Dodd Burns; and siblings, Kathleen Gatlin, James Burns and Edgar Burns He is survived by his three children, Randall Burns (Cissy) of Bishopville, S.C.; Larry (Bo) Burns of Cleveland and Janice Fuller (Max) of Ooltewah; five grandchildren, Michael Burns (Amy) of Greenville, S.C., Jeffrey Burns (Chrissy) of Morrisonville, N.Y., Eric Fuller (Laura) of Chattanooga, Craig Fuller of Dallas, Texas, and Christopher Fuller (Emily) of Chattanooga; eight great-grandchildren; and numerous nephews and nieces.

He served in the U.S. Navy from November 1944 to August 1946. He was awarded the World War II Victory Medal and the Asiatic Pacific Area Ribbon. He is a member of American Legion Post 257.

He was employed 42 years at Hardwick Stove Company. He also worked as a short order cook for more than 40 years at numerous restaurants in Cleveland including the Spot, Sugar and Spice and the Star-Vue Drive-In Theater. He was a member of the Amateur Softball Association of America and the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association. He officiated high school football, elementary basketball and adult softball contests for more than 40 years. He also served as the head coach of the Dixie Youth team, the Senators, for five years. He was elected to the Cleveland Old-Timers Hall-of-Fame in 1992. He was chosen to be an official in the 1999 5A High School Football Championship Game in Nashville.

Known in the Cleveland area as the B.B., he worked three jobs for many years putting in 16 hour days mounting stoves at Hardwick Stove, flipping hamburgers at local restaurants and umpiring ballgames at area ball parks.

A celebration of his life is planned for Wednesday morning, April 1st, 2015 at 11:00 AM in the chapel of Companion Funeral Home located at 2419 Georgetown Road with Chaplin Jym Hitte officiating. Interment will follow in the Sunset Memorial Gardens and will conclude with Military Honors. The family will receive friends on Tuesday evening, March 31st, 2015 from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM in the funeral home chapel. You are encouraged to share a memory of B.B. and/or your personal condolences with his family by visiting his memorial web page and guestbook at www.companionfunerals.com.

Companion Funeral Home and the Cody family are honored to assist the Burns family with his arrangements.


Visitation Details
5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Tuesday, March 31st, 2015
Companion Funeral Home
2419 Georgetown Road NW
Cleveland, TN 37311

Interment
Wednesday, April 1st, 2015

Celebraiton of Life Service Details
11:00 AM
Wednesday, April 1st, 2015
Companion Funeral Home
2419 Georgetown Road NW
Cleveland, TN 37311

Sunset Memorial Gardens
following the service

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of William Franklin "B.B." Burns, please visit our flower store.

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