ROBERT LESTER BURNS, JR

June 15, 1935 to April 26, 2022

Edmond, Oklahoma



Robert's Obituary

Burns, Robert Lester (Jr.), age 86, Edmond, entered into Eternal Life in the early morning of April 26, 2022, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Affectionately known by his family as “the young prince,” Bob was born June 15, 1935 in Chicago, Illinois, the first child of Robert L. Burns, Sr. and Beulah Helen (Denton) Burns. He lived in Chicago until the family moved to Oklahoma City in 1951. Bob, as he was known by friends, graduated from Northwest Classen High School in 1953. From there, he attended the University of Oklahoma where he was a member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity. He later graduated from Oklahoma City University in 1958. It was while attending OCU that Bob met the young lady who would be the love of his life, Patsy Sue Sage, eyeing her at the student union where she was playing bridge with friends. From the first moment of their acquaintance, Bob knew Pat was the girl he would marry, and marry they did on October 5, 1958. They were blessed with two daughters, Missy and Lori. Second only to his love for his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Bob’s three girls were the apples of his eye.

The consummate conversationalist, Bob applied his gift for banter to a career primarily in sales. The majority of his working life was spent selling pharmaceuticals, as his skillful delivery of a punchline got him in the door at more than one doctor’s office. Bob made many lifelong friendships during his pharmaceutical days which endure to this day. Upon retiring from Bristol Myers-Squibb, Bob looked for opportunities to be of service. He assisted people with projects around the house doing business as Odd Job Bob with the motto “No job too small, some jobs too big!”

One job that was never too big for Bob was his service to the Lord. Bob was a long-time member of the Baptist Temple in Oklahoma City, where he served the church in numerous capacities. He taught the Foursquare Sunday School class for many, many years. He was also a Deacon and served periodically as Chairman of the Deacons. He was passionate about and faithful to leading the Men’s Prayer Breakfast, sending thousands of prayer cards over the life of the ministry to friends and strangers in need of prayer. He was also a part of the Ministry Leadership Team and loved baking cookies for Vacation Bible School.

Even in his later years, Bob continued to honor the Lord through his service to the church. More recently, Bob was a member of Faith Bible Church in Edmond. At Faith, he volunteered in both the children’s ministry and in the church’s senior adult ministry. To the end, Bob was a devoted student of the Bible, attending multiple group studies each week in addition to regular personal study and reflection. His commitment to studying the Bible never ended, and his discipline in actually doing so only ended when his final illness prevented it.

Bob also served in the United States Army, from which he was honorably discharged.

Bob was a good friend. His friends could always count on him for jokes and fellowship, but also for kindness, compassion, wisdom and encouragement. Bob knew no strangers. Like his mother, Bob could (and did) talk to anyone and everyone!

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Bob and Beulah, and his beloved wife, Pat. He is survived by daughters, Melissa Ann Nicks, of Claremore; Lori Ellen Riley, of Oklahoma City; sister Linda Alden (Charles) of Edmond; sister-in-law, Sally Kinney, of Tulsa; granddaughters Christin Eberley (Breece) and Cynthia Nicks, both of Claremore; Rachel Riley of Guthrie; Jordan Riley of Denton, TX; great-grandchildren, Aaron, Megan, Ryan, Alayna and Brecken Eberley; niece Cindy Ray (Keith) of Tulsa; nephew Chris Wells (Ellen) of Dallas, TX; nieces Amy Alden and Shannon Reynolds (Travis) of Edmond; and numerous great-nieces and nephews by whom he was well-loved.

The family wish to thank the staff at Bellevue Nursing and Rehabilitation and LifeCare Hospice for taking such good care of “Mr. Bob” these last weeks. The kindness and dignity with which you treated our beloved father, grandfather, brother and uncle will never be forgotten.

A memorial service celebrating Bob’s life will be held on Thursday, May 5, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. at Faith Bible Church, 600 N. Coltrane Road, Edmond, OK.