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Another of the Captain’s
military great-grandchildren is Gene Edward Burleson, son of Ellen
Bonn Burleson Guild. Born Oct. 16, 1931 in Manhattan, Gene was raised in Great Neck, Long Island. Gene and Don were friends during their teens. Gene joined the Air Force in 1949 and became a communications specialist. During a 22-year career, he served at 12 Air Force bases and military install- |
| ations in Texas,
Wyoming, Maryland, Alaska, Ohio, Michigan, New York, Oklahoma, Ramstein, Germany, and
Goose Bay, Labrador. He retired as a tech sergeant in 1971. It must be noted that all three Kirkmans who reached maturity in the late 1940s joined the armed forces: Bill the Army, Don the Navy, and Gene the Air Force. And two had military careers covering 20 or more years. Gene married twice and has five children: Lynn Ann and Mark, born in 1956 and 1957 in Landstuhl, Germany; twins Jane and Joan,born in 1960 in Sault Ste. Marie, MI, and Bradley, born in 1974 in Oklahoma City. Gene’s tribe includes 10 grandchildren. His first marriage to Mary Frances Clement of Wilmington, OH produced the first four children, but ended in divorce. In 1972, Gene married Demaris Bowers Dunlap, born in Muskegon, MI but an Okie since age five. Gene and Dee, who served in the Marine Corps, reside in Edmond, OK, hard by Gene’s last duty station, Tinker Air Force Base. The above picture shows Gene, Dee and their son Brad. After leaving the Air Force, Gene became a computer specialist for 1st National Bank of Oklahoma City and several computer companies. His civilian career also spanned 22 years. |
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