Thomas Alexander "Pepper" Burns Jr.

Thomas Alexander “Pepper” Burns, Jr., 93, of Pine Knoll Shores, North Carolina, passed away on Sunday, February 23, 2025, at the Crystal Coast Hospice House.

A funeral service to honor Pepper’s life will be held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, February 26th at First Methodist Church in Morehead City, NC, officiated by Rev. Powell Osteen. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, February 27th at Asheboro City Cemetery, in Asheboro, NC. For those unable to attend the funeral service, it can be viewed through his obituary page on Munden Funeral Home’s website. The service will remain on the Funeral Home website for 90 days.

Pepper was born in Asheboro, NC on January 24, 1932, to the late son of Thomas A. “Dan” Burns and Marjorie B. Burns. A sixth generation of Randolph County Burns. He attended the Asheboro City Schools and completed one year at UNC-Chapel Hill. During the Korean conflict, he served in the United States Naval Construction Battalion Corps on Guam and Okinawa. Upon returning to the States, he served at a Naval Base in San Diego and was honorably discharged in 1955. He continued his education at High Point College and graduated in 1958.

After college, he worked in Greensboro, NC for the Bonitz Companies until 1972 when he founded Pepper Burns Insulation, Inc. He continued as President of this company until he retired in December of 1993.

He was a charter member of the Guilford College Kiwanis Club, later joining the Gate City Kiwanis Club. He was a member of the Greensboro Engineers Club, the Constructions Specifications Institute of Winston-Salem, NC, and the Greensboro Housing Commission.

He and his family were members of West Market Street Methodist Church in Greensboro. After retirement, he moved to Pine Knoll Shores, NC and continued his worship at First Methodist Church, Morehead City, NC. He served on numerous committees and as Chairman for Finance and later Chairman of Trustees and was Church Financial Secretary.

His hobbies included carving and woodworking, collecting shaving mugs and mustache cups, and propagating azaleas, camelias, and many other plants that fill his yard.

He is survived by his loving wife Arlene, stepdaughter Penny Thames, along with one grandchild, Roy Alexander Baber. He is also survived by his two children from a previous marriage, Emil Frame (Terry) and Trenna Fulle (William).

In addition to his parents, Pepper was preceded in death by his sister, Betty Katherine Page.

Family and friends are welcome to submit online condolences at www.mundenfuneralhome.net

Arrangements by Munden Funeral Home & Crematory, Morehead City, NC.