Robert "Bob" J. Burns, of Lexington and formerly of Bedford, died on December 29, 2021.

Bob was born in Cambridge, MA and attended Rindge Technical High School where he was the manager of the football and track teams for 4 years.

Following graduation, he enlisted in the United States Air Force and served for 4 years during the Korean Conflict.

After his discharge, he attended evening school at Northeastern University and began working at MIT Lincoln Laboratory.

He worked for the Lab for 61 years and for 35 of those years, he managed the Lab's 51-acre Antenna Test Facility in Bedford. When that closed, he transferred to the LL Flight Facility on Hanscom Air Force Base, where he befriended the pilots, technicians, and airplane mechanics as well as his engineering co-workers.

Bob loved the sea and spent many summers at White Horse Beach in Plymouth. He could most often be found in his boat fishing or lobstering.

Bob was a very active parishioner at St Michael's Parish in Bedford where he served in many capacities, ushering, singing, Parish Council, lector, altar server, and cooking. He was also an active member of the Knights of Columbus, having served as Grand Knight. The Knights were Bob's way of serving both his church community and the community of Bedford.

He is survived by his wife, Lynn, his son, Steven and wife Roberta of Hampton, NH, his daughter, Susan Turner and husband Will and their daughters, Sydney and Kate of Newburyport, stepson, Ken Jones and wife Jacqueline and their children Gabriel and Elizabeth of Travis AFB CA, and stepson, Charles Jones and his wife Kathryn and their children, Charlotte and Cullan of Waltham. He is also survived by his brother, Jimmy and wife Margy of Yarmouth Port, his brother, John and wife Carol of Milton GA, and his sister-in-law, Dori of Chelmsford, as well as many nieces and nephews.   He is predeceased by his sister, Marie and her husband John Brogan as well as his brother William.

Bob truly loved his God and family.

Visitation will be held at Bedford Funeral Home, 167 Great Rd., Bedford, on Friday, January 7, from 3:00-6:00 PM.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Saturday, January 8, at St. Michael Church, 90 Concord Rd., Bedford, at 10:00 AM. Masks are required at all services.

For a livestream of the Mass: https://my.gather.app/remember/robert-bob-burns

Interment will be at Westview Cemetery, Lexington. With deepest regret, in this time of COVID, Bob's family will not be hosting a gathering following the interment. It will be held at a future time.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to St. Michael Parish, 90 Concord Rd, Bedford MA 01730.