Newell Channing Burns' Obituary
Newell “Channing” Burns, age 82, of Zellwood went to be with his Lord and Savior on Saturday, July 11, 2015. Channing was born in Boston, MA to Percy Gladstone Burns and Marguerite Ellis Burns. The family lived in Greenwood, a section of Wakefield where Channing attended the Greenwood Elementary School. He attended Christian High School in Boston for 3 years, but his senior year was at Reading High School where he graduated in 1950. He has many friends from his years at Christian High School and was always considered a part of that class, the Class of 1950.
Channing’s family moved to Nova Scotia after his graduation and he spent a year with them until he enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1951 and served on the USS Tusk out of New London, CT. His rank at the time of discharge was “Torpedo Man 2nd Class”.
Channing stayed in Connecticut after his discharge and graduated from the University of Hartford with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He was employed at General Dynamics in CT and CA for 19 years. He worked at several different companies over the years and retired from General Dynamics in San Diego in 1993.
After the loss of his former spouse, he met Sandy Livingstone Sheridan. He and Sandy married at the Church of the Nazarene in Melrose, MA in January of 1985. Along with Sandy came five children, Bobby age 17, Scott age 16, Amy age 15, Lynne age 14, and Christopher age 12. This was a very busy household with teenagers going in all sorts of different directions. Channing was working at Avco in Wilmington, MA at the time, but a lay off in 1987 would split up the family. A job offer in San Diego, CA meant a move. Christopher was still in high school and made the move with Sandy and Channing. Lynne was in her senior year of high school and moved in with Sandy’s sister, Carol Walker. Scott was in his first year at Salem State College and moved into an apartment. Amy and Bobby were not living at home at that time.
When General Dynamics started laying off in 1992 Channing took an early retirement and Sandy and Channing moved to Buladean, NC, bought a house with almost 3 acres of land and plenty of room for a giant backyard garden. They spent 11 years there and learned many things from the mountain people in that community, growing their own vegetables and doing some home canning was one of them.
A move to Zellwood, FL came in 2004 when they bought a manufactured home at Zellwood Station, a resident owned golf & country club community.
Channing enjoyed working with model trains and had quite a collection while living in San Diego. After retirement he worked as a substitute teacher in NC and FL, he also did some tutoring. He was quite the handyman and made many renovations to the different homes he lived in. Channing’s love of gardening which was developed from his father’s love of the same became his passion. He spent many years growing vegetables in San Diego, North Carolina, and Zellwood, FL.
Channing is survived by his wife, Sandy; 5 step-children, Bobby Sheridan, Scott Sheridan (Lynn), Amy Martignetti (Joe), Lynne Bollinger (Larry), and Chris Sheridan (Gina); 9 grandchildren…Amy’s 2, Christopher and Jamie Lynn; Lynne’s 3, Brendan, Kari and Jesse; Scott’s 2, Ryan and Hanna; and Chris’s 2, Christopher and Jake; his nieces and nephews, Kimberly Illsley (Bruce), Laurie Gallagher (Shawn), Douglas Uhrich (Stacey), John Burns (Caroline), Debra Theodorou, Carolyn Fortin (Rob), Sandy Smith (Shawn) and many grand-nieces and nephews.
He will be remembered as a kind, gentle man with a wonderful smile and he loved to give hugs.
A Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday, July 29, 2015 at 2:00PM at the New Life Presbyterian Church, Minneola, FL.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Steverson, Hamlin & Hilbish Funerals and Cremations, 226 E. Burleigh Blvd., Tavares, FL 32778, (352)343-4444. Online condolences may be left on the Tribute Wall.
What’s your fondest memory of Newell?
What’s a lesson you learned from Newell?
Share a story where Newell's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Newell you’ll never forget.
How did Newell make you smile?