Delvin D. Burns - Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Homes & Crematory

Delvin D. Burns

Born September 21, 1931

Delvin D. Burns, age 85, of Hockessin, DE, passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 7, 2017.

Born in Spring Dale, WV on September 21, 1931, Mr. Burns was the son of the late David A. and Virginia (Queen) Burns. He proudly served his country as a member of the U.S. Army during the Korean War. A career educator, Mr. Burns worked for the Colonial School District where he taught English. Prior to his retirement, he would serve as the assistant principal at William Penn High School and lastly, as the principal of New Castle Middle School.

Mr. Burns is survived by his wife of 53 years, Ann (Hargitt) Burns; sons, David Burns (Terri) of Middletown and Thomas Burns (Margaret) of Nashville, TN; and grandchildren, Laura, Ian, Owen, and Zara.
A committal service with military honors will be held at 1 pm on Tuesday afternoon, May 16, 2017 in the chapel of the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 2465 Chesapeake City Road, Bear, DE.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Asbury United Methodist Church, 300 East Basin Rd., New Castle, DE 19720 or to Compassionate Care Hospice, 248 E. Chestnut Hill Rd., Suite 4, Newark, DE 19713 .

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46 Condolences for Delvin D. Burns

  • Thank you for your service to your country and to the education & mentoring of its young people. I have always held fond thoughts of your mentoring during my high school years at Wm Penn. You were a kind and caring gentleman. RIP sir.
    Wm Penn class of 78

  • May rest Paradise You the kindest loving man and best principle Fly free like angel. God bless the burns families

  • I’m so sorry to hear of your passion no Mr. Burns. You deserve a medal for putting up with us students at William Penn! May you Rest In Peace

  • To all the relatives of Delvin Burns, I want to express my most heart felt condolences. During the many years of teaching Art at William Penn, I never worked with a more compassionate, caring Administrator. His obvious love for the students for which he was responsible; and the respect for the teachers he supervised was a hallmark of his tenure at William Penn. I am happy to see he lived such a long, full, and enjoyable life. It is obvious he will be missed, but know his memory will long. Bless you all.

  • Deepest sympathy to the family and the Colonial Family. What a truly dedicated teacher and leader. He will be missed by many. -Kathy Talbert Class of 1972

  • I am sorry for your family’s loss. I fondly remember being in Mr. Burns’ 12th Grade English in the Class of 1969. He met me everyday with a smile and a trash can so that I could place my chewing gum in it. He was a great teacher!

  • I am so sad to hear that Mr. Burns has passed. He was my all time favorite teacher❤️ Wm. Penn. lass of 1970. My sympathy to the entire Burns family

  • Rest In Peace Mr. Burns. You were a great teacher.

  • Del Burns invited me and Joe Daniels on a trip across the country to California stopping at the Grand Canyon, painted dessert, and the great Sand Dunes, then up the coast to Crater Lake, Or., then back through Yellowstone. An amazing trip that I never forgot. I turned 16 on the trip and Mr. Burns became a wonderful friend. He was always kind and thoughtful. I am so sorry I will miss the funeral as Joyce and I will be leaving Tuesday for a missions trip to Hungary, Romania, and Greece.

  • To a wonderful man who would step up when needed and do what needed to be done! Always with a smile and kindness. You will be missed…prayers to the family.

  • I am sure you will rest in peace Mr. Burns you led a kind and meaningful life. You were a good friend to my family as well as a good mentor to me.

  • My heartfelt thoughts and prayers are sent today as I learn of the passing of your dad, David, Thomas and families and of your husband, Ann. Delvin was one of the kindest people I know! He was certainly one of my favorite teachers when I was a student at William Penn High School. He was a person of dignity and grace and his integrity was commendable! He will be missed by so many people. I’m very sorry for your loss.

  • Thank you Mr. Burns for your service to our country & the teenagers at Wm. Penn class of 1965. May you Rest In Peace

  • We were so deeply saddened to learn of Del’ passing. We have so many wonderful memories of this great man. While I was not one of his students at WP, he took me under his wing as I readied for college and helped inspire me to become a teacher. His career as a teacher and administrator in the Colonial School District is legendary as he touched a countless number of students. His work at Asbury United Methodist Church will never be forgotten by the congregation. Above all, he was a devoted husband, a great father, and a very dear friend to the two of us and to many others. We always knew that Del “had our backs!!!!”
    Our hearts and prayers go out to the family. We are there with you in spirit. Please celebrate his wonderful legacy to all of us.

    Dottie and Rich Farmer

  • Mr. Burns was the best teacher I ever had. He REALLY cared and he saw me as I really was and believed in me! I still carry that with me as be not only “helped” me pass senior English, but the lesson he taught me has helped me as a person and in my career, both in radio and as a high school teacher!! One of the things he remembered about me in his class that I was the only student he had that would sleep in his first period English class. True, but he really taught me a LOT! Thank you Mr. Burns!!

  • RIP Mr Burns. You were the best principal. So kind and caring of your students. I hope your paradise is as you imagined.

  • Dave, Terri and the entire Burns family. Sherri and I want to express our deepest condolences on the loss of you father. He was a mentor to me as one of his students and his military and community educational service is to be highly commended.
    Clayton

  • I was a majorette in the 60’s at William Penn.
    We had to show our report card to Mr. Burns
    each time to be able to march in the games.
    A nice gentle man. R.I.P.

  • My condolences to the Burns family. I have fond memories of Mr. Burns from my days at William Penn nearly 50 years ago. He was a true gentleman and a fine teacher.

  • Class of 1965, William Penn. My sincere condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Burns. As my English teacher, he was partly responsible for my career in teaching. He will be missed by many.

  • Thank you for your service to our country and our education system…. You were the principal at New Castle Middle many moons ago when I was a student. You were kind, fair and an all around great man. RIP

  • To the Burns Family. We are very sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time.
    (Old Colesbery Drive neighbors)

  • Rip Mr. Burns. Sending prayers to family and friends.

  • I had the extremely good fortune to be married to Delvin’s sister, Carole Lynn, for 55 years, consequently I have known the Burns family for many years. Delvin was a caring and thoughtful man who unfailingly served his country and community. He will be missed by many, many people. My heartfelt good wishes go to his loving family.

  • While I never had the honor of being one of Mr. Burns’ students, he was a friend of our family forever. I especially remember his presence at Asbury United Methodist Church. A great man, one who worked hard with my father and who always made me feel at ease with him in conversation. My condolences to his family. Celebrate his life, remember him fondly.

  • To a man who helped mold my being…thank you Del for all you’ve done…at church, Asbury, at school, New Castle Middle, and in my career as an educator…you always dropped at a dime to help me throughout my life. I will always be forever indebted to you. I too, will remember all those Mountain Top speeches that help guide me down the good road. RIP my good friend and I will see you on the other side…

  • Rest in piece Mr. Burns, I remember we were afraid of him in school but he turned out to be an old softy LOL god bless

  • Dave and family:
    Sorry to learn of your dad’s passing. A selfless man who served his country with pride as well as the educational community . Condolenses to you and your family during this time of loss.

  • To the Burns family. I am so sorry to hear of the loss of Mr. Burns. I can’t imagine this world without him. He was such a role model for everyone he had contact with. He was not only a teacher to me, he was a dear friend that I will remember always. I stopped by his and Ann’s home several years ago when they were still in Penn Acres. Just talking with him for that short time was like reliving my high school years. It was such a blessing being with him and to see his smile when he talked about his family. My deepest sympathy goes out to his family and those that loved him.

  • Safe travels to you and Joyce.

  • David, Tom and family – our deepest sympathies and prayers during this tough time. May your mom and all of you find peace in the good memories that you have of Del.

    David – anything you need let us know. Tom – my nephew is home from Belmont (Disney program) this weekend, I’ll make sure he sends his condolences.

  • Thank you Mr. Burns for touching my life in your own special way. You are one of my most memorable teachers. The world is a better place because of teachers like you. Rest in peace!

  • David and Tom and family. So sorry for your lost .may god bless you with comfort and peace of mind.

  • It is impossible to measure how much my family was blessed to have not just a good neighbor, but also a good friend like Del Burns (Mr. B to me).   He was helpful and supportive in numerous ways to numerous people.  Our families spent so much time together I cannot imagine my childhood without him, Mrs. B, David and Thomas in it.  I will always keep them in my thoughts and prayers, and my memories of Mr. B in my heart.

  • Our sympathy to the Burns’ family.

    What a great educator. He was truly a leader that led by example. He was both kind and highly competent in whatever task he did. Educators with his abilities and demeanor are difficult to find these days. When I became principal of New Castle Middle, I relied on Mr. Burns’ records and notes to direct me through various school events during the school year. I will always be grateful

    He would tell me all about his family when I would occasionally see him. He was so proud of them.

  • Thank You Mr. Burns for being such a wonderful caring teacher and always such a kind person. William Penn was so lucky to have you for as long as they did. You will always be remembered!

  • Our condolences to Ann, David, Tom and your families. While I never had Del as a teacher our families were closely connected for many years through Asbury and the Colonial School District. I remember how he always had a kind word and a smile for you whenever you saw him. He will be missed by all who knew him.
    Keith and Vicki Farmer

  • Dear Thomas, Margaret, Owen and Zara,

    I am so sorry for your loss. Challenges seem to come in clusters. Please know you are always in my thoughts and prayers.

    May your father, father-in-law and grandfather have everlasting peace, comfort and joy.

    With love,

    Deb Hayden

  • My sincere condolences to Ann, David, Thomas and family. “Big D” as I liked to call him was a great neighbor, colleague and friend. He will be sorely missed but forever and fondly remembered. He always sat with my Dad at the football games – I can still see them there in my mind’s eye. Too many other great memories to list here, but always fun to recall. Bruce Reynolds

  • My sincere condolences to Ann, David, Thomas and their families. I have many memories of Delvin over the years. He had an influence on many individuals in his early teaching years at Meadow Bridge High School in West Virginia before continuing his career in Delaware. He had a personal influence on me as a teacher and as a cousin. His example led me to attend college and become a teacher. His kindness over the years to my parents will always be remembered. We always looked forward to seeing him on his visits to West Virginia and I am sure he will be missed by the many people whose lives he touched in the Meadow Bridge area.

  • David, I send you and your family my deepest sympathy upon the loss of your father, Del. Del was a long time member of our Breakfast Table and I also enjoyed Dinner with Del on most Sunday evenings. He was a close neighbor here at Cokesbury. I was glad that I could visit him and assist him with small matters until he passed. I will miss Del and the others that had close association with him feel likewise.

    Best Wishes
    Walt Hopkins

  • I knew Delvin as a student at our alma mater- Meadow Bridge High School in WV. That was early in his career during the 1950’s. He was an excellent teacher and always an even better friend. He was fully engaged not only as a teacher but also as Boy Scoutmaster, sponsor of the Key Club, etc. Additionally, he was good to all “his boys” in more personal ways such as taking a car load of us to the nearest theater 11 miles away in our rural area! I have reengaged in more recent years thankfully when he attended many of our high school class reunions along with his beloved wife, Ann. I recall fondly she sharing that our class of 1962 was his favorite! After my two older brothers died, I received one of my still treasured notes in his next Christmas card…..how the Patterson boys made it easy for him to father his two sons. I still have that card from 2012. I hold him in highest regard with enormous gratitude. I shall miss his smile and warm greeting at all subsequent class reunions especially. He was just the best.

  • Mr Burns was a Great Man.I attended New Castle Middle School where Mr Burns served as the Principal along with Mrs Lacy as the Vice Principle..Mr Burns was an honorable and Fair man.At times I would be a royal pain in the butt with some of the shenanigans that I would pull from time to time.Mr Burns knew when enough was enough and would always take appropriate measures to rectify whatever nonsense I would pull.I use to hate it when he would call my parents because not only did I have to deal with Mr Burns,I also went home and hand to deal with further repercussions for my actions ..I wish with all my heart that these School Districts would go back to the way they use to Br,from the Education to the Discipline that our schools once had..at This point in our educational system There will Never be highly Qualified individuals like Mr Burns ever again as long as these Schools Continue on their said agenda..Mr Burns was indeed a one of a kind Patriot and leader ..May God Bless Him and his family..

  • Dear Ann, Thomas, David and families,
    I want to express my condolences to you and your families after learning of your dear husband / father’s passing. I’m sure Del’s passing leaves a void in your hearts. Knowing Del as a parent of one of my students (Thomas), I admired him for being such a caring and compassionate person. I hope and pray that your memories of him will sustain you during these difficult times. My best to you all.

  • I served as a school psychologist on the staffs at William Penn Hi and New Castle Middle when Del was assigned as principal of those schools. He was always a gentleman and made every effort to treat all staff members and students fairly and courteously. It is a great tribute to him that so many of his former students took the time and effort to write their heartfelt comments about the many ways he influenced their lives . I am so sorry that I couldn’t attend his funeral and give my condolences to his family in person.
    I am so glad that I had the opportunity to work with and learn from Del Burns.
    I would like to extend my deepest sympathy to all in the Burns family.
    David Pearl

  • Cliff I was a classmate of yours at that time as well and I wholeheartedly agree RIP Mr Burns