Obituary of Margaret Burns

Margaret Westcott Burns Mrs. Burns, 86, of Charlotte, NC passed away on January 17, 2012 after a long and valiant struggle. Margaret was born July 13, 1925 in Charlotte, TN, the daughter of Pleasant Leondais Westcott and Minerva Estelle Joslin. She grew up in White Bluff, TN and at age 16, moved to Atlanta, GA. Margaret began her working career during WWII, as a riveter, building P38 Fighter Planes, which earned her the distinction of being a ?Rosie the Riveter?. Later, she transferred to Marietta, GA, and worked on B-29?s until the end of WWII. Following the war, she worked for Sears in the catalogue dept. She met her sweetheart, Robert D. Burns (Bob), while living in Atlanta. This past September they celebrated sixty incredible years together, still in love at the end as much as they were in the beginning. The family moved to Charlotte in 1963, where Margaret worked as a catalogue supervisor for JC Penney at the Park Road Shopping Center. She retired after 25 years. Margaret was a long time active member of Grace United Methodist Church. She attended the Riley Kelley Sunday School Class and the United Methodist Women, which awarded her a Life Membership. She also was a Brownie Scout leader, and for years enjoyed preparing supper for the MYF youth. In her later years she enjoyed going to senior lunches and events at various Charlotte churches and participating in the activities of the XYZ club of the Salvation Army. Throughout her life, she was known as a wonderful cook. Her calling as a mother was her greatest joy, which started at an early age with her brothers and sister. It continued with her own children, and extended to her nieces and nephews, and even to those in the neighborhood. Even in the last days of her life, she mothered the hospital staff and physicians. Her happiness, optimism, and zest for life will long be remembered. Margaret was predeceased by brothers Roy, Bill, and Freddie. She is survived by her husband Robert; son Doug and wife Stephanie; daughter Janet Mildenberg, husband David, and grandson Matthew; and daughter Betty Burns and partner Cherie Green; her brothers Clifford and Raymond, and sister June Ward, and numerous nieces and nephews. A funeral service will be held at 1:00 PM, Friday, January 20, 2012 at Grace United Methodist Church, 737 East Woodlawn Rd., Charlotte, NC 28209. Interment will follow in Forest Lawn East Cemetery, Matthews. The family will receive friends Thursday evening from 6:30 until 8:00 PM at Hankins & Whittington Funeral Service, 1111 East Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28203. The family would like to thank all who cared for Margaret over the last 3 years, especially the staff at Presbyterian Hospital. Special thanks to Drs. Garner, Dyer, Reen, Fowler, Levine and McMillan. Memorials may be made to Grace United Methodist Church, Blepharospasm Foundation c/o BEBRF, PO Box 12468 Beaumont, TX, 77726, or Juvenile Diabetes c/o JDRF, 205 Regency Executive Park Dr., Charlotte, NC, 28217.