Frank S. Burnette

*****Please, in lieu of flowers make any desired donations to Poppa’s last place of worship, Kirkwood United Church of Christ. .


Frank S. Burnette (“Poppa”) was born on February 6, 1920 and passed away peacefully at his longtime family home in Decatur, GA on August 1st, 2021. He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the Army Air Corps as a left waist gunner based with the 99th Bomb Group in Fogia, Italy. He received credit for 50 missions and earned The Bronze Star among other medals. Following his discharge from the military he met Onalee Gayle Jones, a Kansas farm girl. As Poppa liked to tell it, “I chased her till she caught me.” They married in October of 1947. Although married and having served with valor in World War II, Poppa was brought back for one more tour of duty by his Uncle Sam. He joined the United States Navy during the Korean War and was stationed on the USS Essex. Following the war, Frank and Gayle lived in Tampa, Florida and Wichita, Kansas before settling in Decatur, Georgia in 1956. Frank worked a variety of jobs, sometimes two at a time to support his family. His jobs included selling insurance, working in the film industry, and working for DeKalb County Government. Frank and Gayle’s first child, Bonnalee, was born in Kansas in 1953, and their son, Stacy, was born in Atlanta in 1958. Frank was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. Although he worked two jobs for many years, he always made time to attend any event involving his children and grandchildren. At the time of his passing, Poppa’s seven beloved grandchildren and great-grandchildren ranged in age from 4 years old to 45 years old. Frank made amazing biscuits, pulled for the Georgia Bulldogs and allowed his granddaughters to put rollers and hair chalk in his hair. His home was an inviting and welcoming place for any and all of his children’s friends. He donated to causes without question, bought Girl Scout cookies and remained an avid reader of anything given to him by his kids. Although he did not graduate from highschool he completed crossword puzzles in pen. In his later years he took pride and great joy in mowing the lawns of many of his neighbors who were his dear friends. In February 2020, Frank celebrated his 100th birthday surrounded by more than 100 family and friends. When asked the secret to his long life he remarked, too much laughter, that it was years of “good clean living” and later concluded that you simply have to “keep on keeping on.” Poppa and his family took pride in the fact that he was older than sliced bread. Frank Burnette was honest, loyal and creative. He was generous sometimes to a fault, likely because he knew all too well how it feels to do without. He will be loved, missed and remembered by his children and their spouses, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. .He is preceded in death by his wife of 43 years, Onnalee Gayle, his parents Alva S. Burnette and Mattie Rebie Allen Burnette, and siblings Pauline, Mildred and Robert. He is survived by his beloved baby sister Barbara Ann Massey, hildren Bonnie (Dexter), and Stacy (Kathryn), grandchildren Autumn (Fito), Natalee, Hunter, Evelyn, and Eleanor, and great-grandsons Carson and Brandon. He is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Frank S. Burnette was among the very best of the greatest generation. A funeral service will be held Saturday, August 7, 2021 at 1:00 PM in the chapel of A.S. Turner and Sons Funeral Home. The family will receive friends two hours prior to the service at the funeral home. A.S. Turner and Sons Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of arrangements.