Mr. Richard Craig Burns, 54, of Mocksville, died Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016, at home after a two year battle with pancreatic cancer.

He was born June 8, 1962, in Rahway, N.J. to Jim and Nancy Burns. Mr. Burns was a 1980 graduate of Metuchen, (NJ) High School. He worked as a national technical service manager for Hayward Industries, displaying a knack for problem solving while providing excellent customer service. Mr. Burns lived life to the fullest through simple pleasures; he enjoyed golf, was a musician and a fly fisherman. He enjoyed watching football and baseball, listening to the blues, bluegrass and the Grateful Dead. Mr. Burns was a past exalted ruler and current member representing the South Plainfield, New Jersey Elks Association. He was a volunteer with Project Healing Waters: a physical and emotional rehabilitation of wounded and disabled active and veteran military through fly fishing. Mr. Burns was a kind and gentle man with a wonderful sense of humor.

Survivors: his wife, Serene; mother, Nancy; brothers, Jim and Steven; children, Eric and Valerie; grandchildren, Owen, Xavier, Madeline and Margot; nieces, Megan, Natalie and Siobhan; and nephews, Kyle, Gunnar and Liam.

The family received friends Sunday, Oct. 30 at Eaton Funeral Home, and Wednesday, Nov. 2 at Costello-Runyon Funeral Home, Metuchen, N.J.. There was a private funeral service for the family. Burial followed in Hillside Cemetery, Metuchen.

Memorials: Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, PO.Box 695, La Plata, MD 20646, memo: Winston-Salem, NC; Pancreatic Cancer Action Network; or National Pancreatic Cancer Foundation.

Condolences: www.eatonfuneralservice.com.