Robert (Bob) Bryant Burns passed away peacefully on May 6, at the age of 88. He was an avid outdoorsman, sharing his passions – fishing, hunting, biking, hiking and tennis – with his family whenever possible, especially his wife, June, who was by his side for 64 wonderful years.

Bob was born in Wakefield, MA, the son of Bryant Hatch and Marthe Marie Lamy Burns, and graduated from Templeton High School. After high school, he enlisted in the Air Force, serving one year in Korea during the war, and another three years stateside with the Strategic Air Command, under General Curtiss LeMay. In his last assignment, he was part of the 27-man crew who flew the mighty 10-engine B-36 Bomber.

After the Air Force, he worked for Heywood Wakefield Company in New York City. It was during his daily train commute to the city that he met his future wife, June Nielsen, from Tarrytown, NY. He transferred to their school equipment division in Gardner, MA, and then joined Gledhill Brothers school equipment distributor business, working in Jamaica Plains. In 1964, he moved to Amherst, NH with his family and joined Maine Manufacturing Company, located in Nashua, NH, eventually being promoted to Vice President and General Manager of their school equipment division. After several years running that division, he was given the opportunity to buy it, which he did, changing the name to Creative Interiors, Inc., and moving the business to Amherst, NH. As president and general manager, he guided the company to become New England’s largest school furniture distributor. Upon retirement, he turned the company over to the employees, and moved to Twin Mountain, NH, where he and his wife built a log home, located at the base of the Sugarloaf Mountains, and lived there happily for 30 years. In 2018, they moved to Wells, Maine, to be closer to family.

Bob is survived by his wife, June, and their children: Michelle Emmond and her husband Jim of Amherst, NH, Bryant Burns of San Diego, CA, Robert Burns and his wife Beth of Wells, ME, Suzanne Hagerty of Midlothian, VA, and Joanne Schwope and her husband John of North Hampton, NH. He is also survived by 15 wonderful grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren, who all have a special place in his heart. Bob was predeceased by his beloved daughter, Jeannette. Born prematurely, she was only on this earth for a short while, but she continues to watch over the family as their guardian angel.

There is a private service planned for later this spring, followed by interment in the Southern Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Springvale, ME.

To share a memory or leave a message of condolence, please visit Bob’s Book of Memories Page at www.bibberfuneral.com

Arrangements are in care of Bibber Memorial Chapel, 111 Chapel Road Wells, ME 04090. www.bibber

memorial.com.