Dwayne Travis Burns, 81, a retired Bell Helicopter engineer and World War II paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne, jumped to his final reward Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2006, at a Grapevine hospital.

Funeral: 11 a.m. Saturday at Heritage Church of Christ. Burial: Greenwood Memorial Park. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Biggers Funeral Home.

Dwayne was born Oct. 21, 1924, in Fort Worth. He lived most of his life in the Lake Worth and Haltom City area. Dwayne married Mildred True on Aug. 15, 1948. When not working at Bell Helicopter or on home designs, Dwayne enjoyed flying, creating stained glass windows and music. He wrote a book about his war experiences due in September. See www.jumpintothevalley.com.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Minerva Chastain, and son-in-law, Robert Loomer.

Survivors: Wife, Mildred Burns; children, Dwayne "Chip" Burns and wife, Anna, Leland Burns and wife, Cheryl, Donna Renner and husband, Greg, and DeWayna Loomer; sisters, Eileen Lawler and Kathleen Tucker; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.