Barton C. Burns, 84, of Chattanooga passed away on August 10, 2018. Bart was born in St. Paul Minnesota on October 6, 1933. He excelled academically graduating with his B.B.A. summa cum laude from the University of Minnesota – 1st in his class and his J.D. magna cum laude from the William Mitchell College of Law. As a young CPA, he received the Elijah Watt Sells Award for scoring 2nd in the nation on the CPA exam in 1956 out of 9,000. He was a Tax and Estate planning lawyer and retired a Senior Partner of Chambliss, Bahner, and Stophel, P.C.
Bart served as an Officer of the United States Air Force and devoted countless hours volunteering to help people with disabilities. He served on the Board of Directors for the Orange Grove Center in Chattanooga for 47 years. During this time, he served in numerous leadership capacities including, Board President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Chairman of numerous committees.
Hobbies included golf, tennis, watching sporting events and yelling at the TV about politics. He was a lifelong, and devoted Minnesota Vikings fan. He was hard to beat in a game of Gin-Rummy and was a voracious reader. Later in life, Bart became very involved in East Ridge Politics and was Treasurer of the East Ridge Needy Child Fund and was a member of the Industrial Development Board. He was proud to serve his community.
He is preceded in death by his parents Floyd and Ruth Burns, his brother Bruce Burns, and many beloved pets. He is survived by his sons Paul Burns (wife Carol), James Burns (wife Julia), daughter Karen Burns and their Mother, Nancy Burns, Grandchildren- Rosanne Cornett and Benjamin Burns (wife Courtney), Great Grandchildren Karen Cornett, Kate Cornett, Tyler Burns, and Ella Noel Burns, and a boat-load of grand-dogs.
A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday August 18th at 2 pm at the Orange Grove Center auditorium at 615 Derby Street (across from Memorial Hospital). In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Orange Grove Center of Chattanooga.
