Rev. Leotha Paul Burns, 72, of 332 E. Madison Street, Covington, Virginia, died Sunday, September 19, 2021 at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital in Roanoke.

Rev. Burns was born March 16, 1949 in Covington, a son of the late L.W. Burns and Nellie Kennedy Burns.

Paul worked at Washington and Lee University as a director of Environment and Health Safety.

He received his Masters Degree in divinity from Erskine College. Rev. Burns was the minister of Johnson Creek Presbyterian Church for a number of years.

He proudly served in United States Army and Army reserves for 42 years and received a Bronze Star and an expert infantry badge.

Paul was a retired member of the Covington Rescue Squad and a former member of the Covington Fire Department. He was a member of the Curtis A. Smith Post 1033, Veterans of Foreign Wars, a member and Past Master of Covington Masonic Lodge and Clifton Forge Shrine Club and he loved his Corvettes.

Surviving are his wife, Patsy Peters Burns of Covington; three sons, Aaron Burns and Jason Burns, both of Covington, and Jody Salyards of Ohio; two daughters and sons-in-law, Lisa and Jim Bragg and Amy and Eric Ledford, all of Covington; one brother and sister-in-law, Rev. John and Hazel Burns of West Virginia; two sisters, Bernice Bess of Fork Union and Sue Staton and her husband, John of Chester; eight grandchildren, six great grandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews.

The funeral service will be held Friday, September 24, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. in the Edgemont Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Donnie Bowker officiating.

Interment will be made in the Johnson Creek Presbyterian Church cemetery with military rites.

The family will receive friends Thursday evening at Arritt Funeral Home from 6:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.