Born Oct 15, 1915 — Died Oct 26, 2006
Survivors include Jean Van Riper, his wife of many years & 67 plus; three sons, William V. Burnes and his wife Marlene, Richard M. Burnes and his wife Connie, and Robert L. Burnes and his wife Maxine.
Other survivors include a sister, Mildred Burnes Chase and her daughter, Dr. Barbara Chase; sister-in-law, Anne Van Riper of Indianapolis, Ind.
Bill was an avid golfer and loved to tell about his hole-in-one at Buckingham Golf Course where he was an honorary member.
Bill was a specialty contractor specializing in preserving asphalt military runways, large industrial roadways and parking areas from gasoline spills and water damage.
He semi-retired from contracting and in 1969 built a home in Buckingham Park near Kelseyville. He soon was restless and became a Real Estate Broker with four offices in Lake County. He also became the Sales Manager at Del Lago, a town house development on the shores of Clear Lake in Lakeport.
Civic activities were also a priority for Bill. He was President of the Clear Lake Board of Realtors, President of the Lakeport Rotary Club, County Chairman of the Red Cross, and President and Chairman of the Board of Lakeside Community Hospital. He was an honorary member of both the Lakeport and Kelseyville Rotary Clubs and an Elder of the Kelseyville Presbyterian Church. Before moving to Lake County, he was President of a nation-wide road improvement association and served on the board of directors of a large YMCA.
Bill was proud of his family. His three sons all had college degrees and are employed as professionals.
When World War II started, Bill was loaned by the Indiana State Chamber of Commerce, where he was employed, to the State office of OPA to help the director set up a statewide organization to ration tires and gasoline. More than 100 ration offices were established in 52 counties, which allowed local citizens to easily apply for ration stamps. Bill was promoted to administration officer at 28 years of age and was responsible for 1,250 employees. He had to grow up in a hurry, but always said it was the greatest experience of his life.
Bill also served in the US Navy as a Classification Specialist 1 and a Warrant Officer in the Civil Air Patrol.
Friends are invited to a graveside service at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 1, at the Kelseyville Cemetery. A memorial service will follow at noon at the Kelseyville Presbyterian Church.
For further information call Chapel of the Lakes at 263-0357 or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com.
Please sign the guest book at www.record-bee.com, then click obituaries.
(Published in the Lake County Record-Bee on Tuesday, October 31, 2006.)
