Philip Walker Burns, Jr.

Philip Walker (Phil) Burns, Jr. of Savannah, GA died Sunday, March 19, 2023 at Memorial Hospital in Savannah, GA. He was born in Rock Hill, South Carolina on August 6, 1943 and was a son of the late Philip Walker Burns, Sr. and the late Kathleen Hurd Burns.

Phil grew up in Rock Hill, graduating from Rock Hill High School in 1961.  He attended Presbyterian College in Clinton, South Carolina, graduating in 1965 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration.  Upon graduation he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the United States Army.  He served both on active duty and in the Army Reserves, retiring from military service in 2003 as a Lieutenant Colonel.

Phil’s civilian career began as an insurance underwriter with the Traveler’s Insurance Agency in Charlotte, North Carolina.  There he met his wife, the former Betty Ann Kee; they married in 1971.  His career continued with family moves to Raleigh, North Carolina; Hollywood, Florida; Longwood, Florida; and ultimately Savannah, Georgia.  His final employment was with the Dewitt Insurance Agency in Savannah, from which he retired in 2014. 

Survivors include his wife, Betty Kee Burns, his son Scott W. Burns (Meredith), and his grandson, Andrew W. Burns, all of Savannah, GA.  Surviving also are a sister, Laura Scott (Mike) of Winter Garden, FL; a brother, Allen H. Burns (Gladys) of Simpsonville, SC and several nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.

The family are members of Wilmington Island Presbyterian Church where Phil served as an Elder, and previously as Clerk of Session. 

The funeral services will be Friday, March 24th at 2:00 PM with interment following in Rock Hill’s Grandview Memorial Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests any memorial donations be made to Wilmington Island Presbyterian Church (wipcsav.org) or the Thornwell Home for Children, Clinton, SC.

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