Kurt Dorn Burns

Kurt Dorn Burns, 83, died peacefully at his home in Siloam Springs, Ark., on July 24, 2011 under the care of Circle of Life Hospice. He was surrounded by family and friends. He was born Nov. 12, 1927 in Izard County, Ark., to Tom Hansen and Jewel Virginia Newsom Burns. He married Sylvia Ellen Lowe on June 5, 1951 in Joplin, Mo. He was a life-long resident of Arkansas and practiced dentistry for 50 years in Siloam Springs. His Siloam Springs area patients and friends knew him as "Doc." His Gentry area patients and friends continued to call him "Dorn." He graduated from Gentry High School in 1945. In 1949 he graduated from the University of Arkansas with a Bachelor of Science in Pre-Dental. He studied dental surgery and graduated from Washington University Dental School in St. Louis, Mo., in 1953. He came to Siloam Springs and started his dental practice. In November 1953, he was called up from the Naval Reserve into active duty. He served as a lieutenant stationed at Camp Pendleton in San Diego, Calif. He served as a fleet dentist in Point Barrow, Alaska. He returned to Siloam Springs in 1955 and resumed his dental practice until his retirement in 2004. He was a lifetime member of the Arkansas Dental Association and served on its Executive Council from 1971-76. He was a member of the University of Arkansas Alumni Association and an avid Razorback fan. An avid golfer, he was a member of the United States Golf Association. He is survived by his wife, Sylvia, of the home; daughter and son-in-law, Alan and Cindy Knox of Bella Vista, Ark.; daughter and son-in-law, George and Sandra Mayo of Neosho, Mo.; son and daughter-in-law Barry and Renee' Burns of Siloam Springs, Ark.; and daughter and son-in-law, Larry and Lindy Taylor of Gentry, Ark.; 12 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren; beloved friends Robert and Dee Cox; and many other family and friends. Visitation will be Thursday, July 28 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Wasson Funeral Home, Siloam Springs. Funeral services will be 10 a.m., Friday, July 29, 2011 at Grace Episcopal Church, Siloam Springs, with the Rev. Stanley McKinnon officiating. Burial will follow at Gentry Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Circle of Life Hospice, 901 Jones Rd., Springdale, Ark., 72762 or to the Alzheimer's Association, Oklahoma and Arkansas Chapter, Inc., 6465 South Yale Ave., Suite 312, Tulsa, Okla., 74136-7804. To sign the online guest book, visit www.wassonfuneralhome.com.