Reverend Ralph Samuel Burns of 337 Grace Village Drive, Winona Lake, Indiana, passed away on Friday, April 20, 2012, at 9:20 a.m. at Grace Village Health Care of Winona Lake at the age of 91.
He was born on November 21, 1920, in Fairview, New Jersey, to John Henry Burns and Hannah Elizabeth (Hartley) Burns. On March 31, 1945, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he was married to Ruth Dietz, who passed away on May 21, 2009.
Ralph was a graduate of Frankford High School in Philadelphia, after which he attended and graduated from Grace College & Seminary in Winona Lake, Indiana, as well as the Bible Institute of Pennsylvania.
He was a resident of Kosciusko County, Indiana for the past 41 years, where he was a member of Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church, Winona Lake, Indiana. He served as a pastor for more than 40 years in Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Indiana; and was also a chaplain at Grace Village Retirement Community of Winona Lake, Indiana.
He will be lovingly remembered by his son: Ronald David (wife Krista) Burns (Warsaw, Indiana); daughter: Rebecca (husband Daniel) Gehrke (Warsaw, Indiana); ten grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, two sisters, and one brother.
Visitation will be held on Monday, April 23, 2012 from 10:00 – 12:00 noon and 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. at Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Road, Warsaw, Indiana.
His funeral service will be conducted later in the evening on Monday, April 23, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. at Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church, 1200 Kings Highway, Winona Lake, Indiana, and officiated by Pastor Bruce Barlow and Pastor Glenn Byers.
Private graveside services will take place at Oakwood Cemetery, Warsaw, Indiana.
Memorial donations in Ralph’s name can be directed to Lakeland Child Evangelism Ministries, P.O. Box 612, Winona Lake, Indiana 46590; or to Grace Village Retirement Community, 337 Grace Village Drive, Winona Lake, Indiana 46590 and would be appreciated by his family.