David W. Burns

David W. Burns

Age 68, of West Milton, passed away Saturday, July 31, 2021, at 10:05 PM at Miami Valley Hospital. He had been a patient in the intensive care unit for three weeks.

David was born in Piqua, Ohio, on June 26, 1953, to the late Howard “Shorty” C. &  Alice F. (Gray) Burns. He was a 1971 graduate of Newton High School in Pleasant Hill, from a class of 42 your men and women. The class remains as close as ever, just recently celebrating their 50th class reunion and getting together for dinner once a month. David was a former Scoutmaster for Troop 146 in Pleasant Hill and enjoyed guiding the boys toward being good citizens with a strong sense of responsibility. He was really proud of the two Eagle Scouts from his troop, Nick Christian and Jeremy Adams. A few years later, he saw his own son, Matthew Burns become an Eagle Scout.

David worked at Lloyd Fry Construction for a few years before beginning his career at Hobart Brothers in Troy in the Robotics group. In August 1989, David watched as Hobart brothers (Westbrook) and Yaskawa merged to form a new company, Motoman. He accepted a position with Motoman and worked there until he retired on June 30, 2015. He spent his retirement years chasing his wife to keep her busy, watching trains at the Iron Triangle in Fostoria, reading and watching his granddaughter play softball for the Troy Trojans and travel ball for the Miami County Blaze, 18UBeeler, who just returned from the World Series in Alabama, placing 3rd. David loved taking his grandkids to lunch. He took Logan to Sakai, where they had many deep conversations, and Allyson to Skyline, where they laughed and talked mostly softball.

David was a state board of director for All Aboard Ohio, a group interested in restoring passenger rail service between Cleveland and Cincinnati, with stops in Columbus and Dayton.  He was also a member of the Nation Association of Rail Passengers and the Bradford Ohio Railroad Museum. He loved going to Sugarcreek to the Roundhouse, where they give tours to watch the workers restore old steam locomotives.

On February 18, 1984, David went on a blind date and met Rose, his future wife. They were married at The Iddings Cabin at Brukner Nature Center on May 25, 1985, by Rev. William Gay. On January 29, 2013, they renewed their vows at Transfiguration Church in West Milton. Later that spring, David was baptized and took his first communion there. He loved his church and felt very strongly about their teachings.

David was preceded in death by his parents, Howard & Alice Burns; brothers and spouses Philip & Edie and Myron & Louise; sister Carolyn Armstrong; cousin Harold Martin; niece and nephews Kathy Burns, Steven Burns, Doug Burns, and Gill Hawk; in-laws Maynard & Joan (Wooddell) Alspaugh.

David is survived by his loving wife Rose (Alspaugh) Burns; son and daughter-in-law Matthew & Amanda; beloved grandchildren Logan Matthew and Allyson Nichole; sister Judy Hawk; brother Larry Burns of Troy.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 AM Friday, August 6, at the Transfiguration Catholic Church, 972 S. Miami St, West Milton. Fr. Eric Bowman will officiate with interment following at Wheelock Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 4:00-8:00 PM Thursday at Jackson-Sarver Funeral Home, 1 S. Main Street, Pleasant Hill. As railroading was so close to David’s heart, take a ride on the Amtrack Railroad and enjoy yourselves, or contributions may be made to All Aboard Ohio, 3136 Kingsdale Center #112, Columbus, OH 43221. Online memories may be left for the family at www.jackson-sarver.com

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