Robert Bruce Burns

ROBERT (BOBBY) BRUCE BURNS, AGE 72, FROM NIOTA, TN., WAS WELCOMED INTO THE ARMS OF JESUS, HIS LORD AND SAVIOUR ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2026, AFTER A VERY BRIEF ILLNESS.

BORN IN ETOWAH, TN., ON AUGUST 30, 1954, TO AILEEN PUCKETT BURNS AND BRUCE BURNS, AND THEN RAISED BY A DEAR AND LOVING AUNT AND UNCLE, JEWELL, AND GARFIELD CANTRELL, IN KNOXVILLE, TN., FROM THE AGE OF 10, AFTER THE PASSING OF BOTH PARENTS.

HE GREW UP IN THE BALL CAMP COMMUNITY AND GRADUATED FROM KARNS HIGH SCHOOL IN KNOXVILLE, CLASS OF 1972, BUT THE GREATEST DECISION HE EVER MADE WAS ACCEPTING JESUS AS HIS LORD AND SAVIOUR AT AN EARLY AGE. NEXT, HE LEARNED TO VALUE FAMILY AND FRIENDS WITH LOVE, COMPASSION, RESPECT, HONESTY AND INTEGRITY. BOBBY'S LOVE FOR GOD, COUNTRY FAMILY AND FRIENDS WAS NEVER COMPROMISED. WHEN HE LOVED, IT WAS GENUINE.

HIS PASSION AND LOVE FOR WORKING ON CLASSIC VEHICLES BEGAN AT A VERY EARLY AGE. AS SOON AS HE WAS OLD ENOUGH AND SAVED ENOUGH MONEY, HE PURCHASED HIS FIRST VEHICLE, A PONTIAC, FOR $50, THE FIRST OF HUNDREDS OF VEHICLES IN HIS POSSESSION - FROM MANY CLASSICS, TO RACE CARS OR "JUST FIXING ONE UP TO FLIP," BUT ALWAYS READY TO "TALK CARS, ENGINES AND MECHANICS" AND WILLING TO HELP OTHERS WITH THEIR VEHICLE ISSUES. MANY WEEKENDS WERE ENJOYED WITH HIS "FAMILY" OF CAR ENTHUSIASTS AT VARIOUS CRUISE-INS AND SWAP MEETS AND CLUB MEETINGS IN THE AREA.

AFTER GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL, THE NEXT 4 YEARS WERE SPENT WITH THE UNITED STATES NAVY, STARTING WITH BOOT CAMP AT THE NAVAL STATION- GREAT LAKES, JUST NORTH OF CHICAGO, AND AFTER BASIC TRAINING BEGAN HIS JOB AS ENGINE MECHANIC ABOARD THE USS NIMITZ CVN 68, NUCLEAR-POWERED AIRCRAFT SUPERCARRIER. DURING 1978, HE BEGAN HIS CAREER AS AUTO MECHANIC, WORKING ON THE VEHICLE FLEET FOR BELLSOUTH IN NASHVILLE, TN. FOLLOWING HIS SERVICE AT BELLSOUTH, HE BEGAN DRIVING A LONG-HAUL TRUCK UNTIL HIS RETIREMENT IN 2019.

IN ADDITION TO BOTH PARENTS AND SPECIAL AUNT & UNCLE (JEWELL AND GARFIELD CANTRELL) HE WAS PRECEEDED IN DEATH BY DAUGHTER, GISELE LUMSDEN - FOUR BROTHERS - JIM REED, SAM WOLFSON, "BUDDY" BRUCE, AND KENNY BRUCE.

HE IS SURVIVED BY HIS DAUGHTER, ERICKA LUMSDEN; HIS SON, GABRIEL (SYLVIA) FAULKNER; THREE SISTERS, LINDA BRYANT, LIZ (BOBBY) WHITAKER, AND SALLY (MARY) BRUCE; FOUR GRANDCHILDREN; AND ONE GREAT-GRANDCHILD. HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE ROUGH RIDERS CAR CLUB IN ATHENS, TENNESSEE, AND ENJOYED MANY EVENTS WITH THE GRUDGERS STEEL CAR CLUB, AS WELL AS OTHER AREA CRUISE INS AND SWAP MEETS.

BOBBY'S REQUEST TO OMIT ANY FUNERAL SERVICES WILL BE HONORED, BUT A "CELEBRATION OF HIS LIFE" WILL BE HELD WITH A CRUISE-IN ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2026, AT MARSHALL HILL BAPTIST CHURCH, 621 COUNTY ROAD 255, NIOTA, TN 37826 - FROM 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM - A VERY CASUAL AND HAPPY EVENT TO CELEBRATE THE HAPPY MEMORIES OF BOBBY!!!