Roy Lynn Burnum was born June 11, 1936, to Paul Dean Burnum Sr. and Rachel (Lowrance) Burnum. He was born about 4 and ½ miles Northeast of Delhi, Oklahoma in the sand hills. He passed away Tuesday, September 10, 2024.

He was the youngest of four boys, Paul Dean Burnum Jr., Yakima Jack Burnum, and W.H. (Dub) Burnum. Roy Lynn was known by Roy to most, but to family he was Lynn. He was very proud to have been named after one of his uncles, Roy Lee Burnum, who also graduated from Delhi High School.

The boys all graduated from Delhi High School. Roy Lynn graduated in 1954.

In 1937 the family moved to Morenci where Dean worked for Kennecott Copper where he was an ore truck operator. The situation that was developing in Europe caused Dean much concern and the family returned to Oklahoma in 1940. Dean went to work on Lake Lugert, now known as Lake Altus, as a heavy equipment operator.

After the bombing of Pearl Harbor Dean felt they should move back to the Burnum farm 1 mile North and 1 mile East of Delhi. Dean farmed in Oklahoma until 1948 and then the family moved to Idaho and bought a farm near where 3 of Dean’s brothers had farms. While living in Idaho they experienced the coldest winters and in 1950 Dean, Rachel (Short), and Lynn returned to Sayre Oklahoma.

Dean leased a gas station in Sayre on old highway 66 and they operated it until 1951. They then moved back to the Delhi community and again began farming.

Roy Lynn was smitten by a young girl on the school bus who became the love of his life. He would marry Gayle Itschner on May 16,1955. They were married the night before she graduated from Delhi High School making her the last Burnum to graduate from Delhi.

Roy Lynn went to California after graduating from high school and went to work for a cousin “hanging sheetrock.” He and Gayle moved to Pasco, Washington where he worked on Ice Harbor Dam as a “dam” carpenter.

In December of 1958 they bought their first new home in Newark, California and Gayle went to work for Bank of America. Then in May of 1959 Lynn was drafted and inducted into the U.S. Army in Oakland, California. Basic training was at Ft. Hood, Texas. And then A.I.T. was at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma.

In March of 1960 Lynn was sent to Germany where he was in one of the first groups to serve with the Germans on a German base. He was with the 30th U.S.A., Missile Detachment and was a nuclear warhead specialist on the Honest John Rocket.
He had two uncles that served in Germany during World War I and his oldest brother Paul Dean served in Germany during World War II, where he was awarded the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star, and the Silver Star. Paul Dean was always Roy Lynn’s Audie Murphy and John Wayne.

In 1961, when he was discharged from the service he returned to California and began “hanging sheetrock” again.

In 1962, Roy Lynn and Gayle moved to Mojave, California where he went to work for United Carbon Company and was an operator on the startup of this brand-new plant. It was later purchased by Ashland Chemical Company. While there he worked as an operator, skilled repairman, and then was a shipping operator. Ashland then created a new job title for the plant, Utility Supervisor. Roy Lynn was chosen for this job where he filled in for the shift foreman, maintenance foreman, shipping foreman, and worked on special projects with Engineers and maintenance contractors.

In 1974, Roy Lynn and Gayle moved to Brownwood, Texas. Roy Lynn went to work for Phillips Driscopipe as the first Customer Service Representative for the plant which was the largest PE Pipe plant in the world.

Like always there were changes to be made and Roy Lynn was always there. He became a shipping supervisor, customer service supervisor and plant scheduler. He had a shipping foreman, two customer service representatives and a clerk. During this period Roy was given the honor to hire a lot of employees for the plant.

Then after another big change and early retirements another new position was created, Plant Coordinator Supervisor. Roy Lynn then found himself as the plant scheduler, shipping supervisor, plant safety coordinator and quality assurance supervisor. He along with his employees wrote the pipe loading safety manuals for the company as they produced the largest pipe sizes in PE Pipe in the world.

Then in 1993, Roy was downsized out of his job and he and Gayle who had to leave her job as a Banking Officer in 1989 due to health problems have remained in Early, Texas.

Roy became a Master Mason, 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason and a Shriner. For several years Roy and Gayle were very active in the local club and traveled extensively with not only the Oriental Band, but with a Shriner RV group.

Roy, an avid Republican, was always ready for a debate. Liberals almost drove him crazy. They will ruin our great country if not stopped, he often said.

If you had stock in Ford Motor Co. and you made a lot of money you can thank Roy. He was a loyal Ford owner, he did try other brands, but always came back to Ford. Gayle often said she should have buried him in a car as he liked to trade often.

Roy Lynn and Gayle have no children but have some nieces and nephews who have been very generous with their time and attention.

A special thanks to Royce Itschner for his financial expertise over these many years since our retirement.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Heritage Funeral Home Davis – Morris Chapel. Services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 27 at Heritage Funeral Home Davis – Morris Chapel.

Please view Mr. Burnum’s online memorial at www.heritagefuneralhometx.com

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