Joseph Edwin Burnam

Joseph Edwin (Joe Ed) Burnam, III, age 78, died Wednesday, October 22, 2014 in Hendrick Medical Center. Funeral services will be Monday, October 27, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. at Pioneer Drive Baptist Church with the Rev. Stan Allcorn and Dr. Jeff Reid officiating. Burial will follow in Elmwood Memorial Park directed by The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. Joe Ed Burnam was born July 30, 1936 in Abilene, Texas to Joseph Edwin (Ed) and Helen Marie Anthony Burnam. He graduated from Coleman High School in 1955 and Hardin-Simmons University in 1962. While attending Hardin-Simmons University, he was in ROTC, earned a degree in Finance, met and married Nan Jo Futch of Dickens, Texas on July 21, 1961. They lived in Fort Eustis, Virginia and Ballinger, Texas before moving back to Abilene in 1976. He worked eighteen years for West Texas Utilities in Ballinger and Abilene, Carrier Bock Air Conditioning and the United States Postal Service at the Abilene Main Post Office for seventeen years, retiring August 2002. At the time of his death he was an active member of the Abilene Evening Lions Club with forty-nine years of perfect attendance with three Lions Clubs: Ballinger Lions Club, Elmwood West Lions Club and Abilene Evening Lions Club. He became a registered Boy Scout in 1945 and has maintained an active membership for 70 years. He is the second of three generations of Eagle Scouts. For over forty-six years he served the Chisholm Trail Council, now the Texas Trails Council, in many areas, from a scout to scoutmaster, advancement chairman, National Jamboree chairman, Penateka Lodge of the Order of the Arrow advisor and executive board member. He attended ten Boy Scout National Jamborees. He received his Order of the Arrow Vigil in 1956, the Chisholm Trail Council District Award of Merit in 1982, the Silver Beaver in 1987 and the James E. West Award in 2002. He served in the US Army, the Texas National Guard and the US Army Reserves for twenty-eight years, retiring as a Lt. Colonel. He roved tennis courts with Nan as a tennis official for 26 years. After retirement he loved to travel especially cruising, volunteering as a West Texas Fair and Western Heritage helper, along with numerous Boy Scout and Lions Club activities. Survivors include his wife of 53 years, Nan Jo Futch Burnam of Abilene; two children, daughter, Stephanie Annette Burnam of Grand Prairie and son, Russell Joe Burnam of Dallas, and the lights of his life, two grandsons Cole Stephen Burnam and Chase Anthony Burnam of Dallas. In addition, one brother Kenneth Wayne and wife Debbie Burnam of Houston; one brother-in-law H. L. Futch, Jr. of Lubbock, one sister-in-law Mabel Futch Guhl of Lubbock and the eight cousins, plus nieces and nephews. Preceding him in death were his parents Ed Burnam and Helen Burnam Rambo, grandparents Joseph Edwin (Joe) and Opha Jobe Burnam of Abilene, Kate and Jack Casbeer of San Angelo and H. M. Anthony of Mineral Wells. Pallbearers are Dr. Miller Richert of Abilene, Doug Paxton of Abilene, Jerry Johnson of Nocona, Dick Ford of Abilene, Ronnie Bilberry of Spur, Ted Futch of Lubbock. Honorary pallbearers are Dr. Joe Ferguson, Abilene Evening Lions Club members, members of the Penateka Lodge Order of the Arrow of Boy Scouts of America. Visitation will be from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Sunday, October 26, 2014 at The Hamil Family Funeral Home at 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. Memorials may be made to Texas Trails Council of the Boy Scouts of America (1208 N. 5th St., Abilene, TX 79601), Easter Pageant, Pioneer Drive Baptist Church (702 S Pioneer, Abilene, TX 79605), Texas Lions Camp (P.O. Box 290247, Kerrville, TX 78029), Abilene Tennis Association scholarship fund (810 Portland, Abilene, TX 79605) or your favorite charity. A special thank you to Dr. Joe Ferguson, Dr. Nancy Daggubati, Dr. David Carlson, Dr. Preston Pate, Reverend Stan Allcorn and Dr. Jeff Reid for their special comfort to Joe Ed and his family. THE SCOUT BENEDICTION And now may the Great Master of all Scouts Be with you Until we meet again. Online condolences may be submitted at www.HamilFamilyFuneralHome.com.