Mr Joseph E Burlas II

Colonel Joseph E. Burlas, 78, of Marietta passed away on August 27, 2012. He was born and grew up in Virginia and received a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Virginia and a Master’s Degree from San Francisco State University. During his Army career of 32 years, he and his family lived in several countries and states. In 2001, he was inducted into the Army Public Affairs Hall of Fame and between 1981 and 1984 served as Commander and Editor-in-Chief of Pacific Stars and Stripes newspaper in Japan, overseeing the publishing and printing of 40,000 newspapers daily. While at the Pentagon he was also credited with modernizing Army newspapers. Joe received numerous medals and honors including the Defense Superior Service Medal, 2 Bronze Stars, The Legion of Merit, and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry. Colonel Burlas and his wife, Elizabeth Robinson Burlas (Betty/Liz/Baba), enjoyed traveling and visited five continents and most of the U.S. during his lifetime. He is remembered with fondness by his family and friends as a man with wit and a teasing good humor. His love of baseball was evident as he attended games, watched on television, and coached Little League and American Legion baseball when his sons played. His love of God and country was manifested by his membership in the Episcopal Church for 45 years and East Cobb Presbyterian Church for the past 8 years. His greatest joys were his wife of 55 years and his three children, Joe Burlas III, Robbie Burlas, and Becki Shannon and their spouses, Erika Burlas, Anne Burlas, and Pat Shannon; his nine grandchildren, Joe Burlas IV, Veronika Conner (spouse Ray Conner), Jim Burlas, Rachel Burlas, Billy Burlas, Katie Burlas, Michael Burlas, Kasey Shannon, and Holt Shannon; and his three great-grandchildren, Joey Burlas V, Braedan Conner, and Natalie Conner. He was also blessed by a host of nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to PastorServe Inc, www.pastorserve.net, (877) 918-4746 or Wounded Warriors Project, www.woundedwarriorproject.org, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas 66675, 855.GIVE.WWP. The family will receive friends on Friday, August 31, 2012 from 6:00-8:00pm at H.M. Patterson & Son Canton Hill. A celebration of life will be on Saturday, September 1, 2012 at 2:00pm at East Cobb Presbyterian Church. A military service will be held at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery.