Cecil K. Burns, age 88, of Malvern, died Monday, December 2, 2013 at the National Park Medical Center in Hot Springs. He was born on January 1, 1925 in Glen Rose to the late Filmore Burns and Mollie Cox Burns. Reared and educated in Glen Rose, he was a Marine Corps veteran of World War II. Cecil was a mail carrier for the United States Postal Service for 42 years. He retired June 19, 1987. A reporter for the Malvern Daily Record, who did a feature story at his retirement, estimated that Cecil had walked his routes the equivalent of circling the earth six and one-half times! After his retirement, Cecil trimmed trees, and if you ever saw him climb, you'd think he was defying gravity. Cecil had a huge heart, and loved doing for others. Many, many yards in Malvern were mowed by him, for many years, at no charge. He maintained several local cemeteries by mowing, trimming, and even filling sunken graves, just because it was something that needed to be done, and he enjoyed doing it. Cecil was a long-time member of First Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon. He attended the W. W. Barnes Sunday School Class, and was assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 21, under the guidance of the late Max Beard. He was also a member of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees (NARFE). Cecil was currently a member of the City Cemetery Committee and was thrilled with the recent expansion of Oak Ridge Cemetery.

He was also preceded in death by three brothers, Jewell, Willard, and Perley Burns, and by a sister, Lelia Mae Davis.

Cecil is survived by his wife, Wanda King Burns, to whom he was married on December 24, 1949 at Fairplay; his son Randy (Kay) Burns of Magnet Cove; his daughter, Lisa Burns Carpenter of Malvern; his sister, Vernell Sessor of Pasadena, Texas; and by three grandchildren, Kristin Nicole Carpenter, Kacee Renee Carpenter, and Jeffrey Burns.

The family will receive friends at J. A. Funk Funeral Home on Wednesday evening, December 4, from five until seven o'clock.

His funeral will be at ten o'clock Thursday, December 5, 2013 in the sanctuary of First Baptist Church with Reverend James Batts officiating. Interment with military honors will follow in Fairplay Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be: Bobby King, Greg King, Jeffrey Burns, David Williamson, Scott Walters, and Lance McGriff.

Honorary pallbearers will be Deacons of First Baptist Church.

Online condolences may be sent via jafunkfuneralhome.com.