Burial will be in Killeen Memorial Park with military honors.
Mr. Burnell died Monday, Sept. 29, at his residence.
He was born Dec. 10, 1927, in Bridgeton, Maine, to Fred Isaac Burnell and Virginia Helen Emery Burnell. He married Irene Jane Bouley in 1948 in Bridgeton, Maine. He served 1944-46 in the U.S. Navy and then in the U.S. Army from 1954 to 1963. His medals include the Good Conduct Medal, marksman for rifle and pistol, expert (submachine gun), Letter of Accommodation and two Letters of Appreciation. During a tour of duty to Okinawa, Japan, he bacame a missionary and founded a church. The couple moved to Fort Hood for another tour of duty until 1963. He was the founder and president of the Miracle Evangelistic Fellowship in 1978. He also started two missions in Africa, J&I Adult Bible Institute Training Center in Lebanon and the Frontline Children’s Academy in Nigeria. In 1977 the family moved to New York, where he was the pastor of another church. In 1983 he moved back to Texas, living in Harker Heights and Copperas Cove. During his time at Fort Hood he was founder and pastor of The Miracle Church of God in Harker Heights for 17 years. He later became a contractor and builder in the Killeen area for 48 years.
Survivors include his wife; three children, Ruth I. Gardner, James I. Burnell and David R. Burnell, all of Killeen; 10 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. today at Killeen Memorial Funeral Home in Killeen.
