|
Obituary : William J. Burns |
|
|
 William J. Burns passed away peacefully at Cottage Hospital, Santa Barbara,
California, on Sunday, November 1, 2009, as a result of a head injury he had
sustained in an accident at his ranch two weeks before. He was 68 years
old.
Bill was born in Fort Knox, Kentucky, to Catherine and Russell Burns. He
traveled extensively because his father was in the Army. Bill graduated from
Frankfort American High School in Germany. From there he joined the Marine Corps
and went to Security Guard School in Washington, D.C. His first assignment was
in Khartoum, Sudan, Africa, in 1962, where he served as an Embassy Guard.
Following a year of service, he transferred to Colombo, Ceylon, for a year and
then to Vietnam, under Ambassador Lodge. He received his honorable discharge in
March 1964. He met his first wife, Patricia Chandler, while serving in Sudan,
and they married in 1965. Together, they had two children, Michael Wayne Burns
and Kristy Lynn Burns. Later, he received his master's degree from Laverne
University in California. In 1989, he married Christine Lawler. He and Chris
ended up living in the hills of Lompoc, California, where they operated a
22-acre ranch while working together for the Santa Barbara County Sherriff's
Department.
In 1965, Bill joined the Colorado Springs Police Department and
from there moved to Garden Grove in 1966 and joined the Garden Grove Police
Department. In 1972, he honorably served the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's
Department as a Patrol Deputy and Sergeant, Narcotics Sergeant, Major Crimes
Detective Sergeant, Training Bureau Lieutenant, and a SET leader. In 2003, Bill
retired from the Sheriffs Department as a Lieutenant after serving for 33
years.
Bill and his wife Chris were active members of the Santa Ynez Valley
equestrian community, spending countless hours with their many close and
cherished friends.
Bill was a past president of Santa Barbara Trail Riders
and a member of the Rancheros Visitadores Gringo camp, where he participated
annually in the trek to Janeway Ranch.
Bill is survived by Chris, his beloved
wife of 20 years, son Michael Burns, daughter Kristy Heller, son-in-law Michael
Heller, and granddaughters Katelyn and Kiersten.
Bill had a love of animals,
which included his horse, Mr. Mouse; his dogs, little Bernie and Nell; and his
cat Kiki.
Bill was a beloved husband, father, and cherished friend. Bill will
be greatly missed by family, friends, law enforcement colleagues, and his many
riding camp mates.
To celebrate Bill's life, a gathering of family and
friends will be held on Tuesday November 10, at Live Oak Camp, off Highway 154
near Rancho San Marcos Golf Course at 1:00 PM.
Arrangements are under the
direction of Dudley-Hoffman Mortuary and Crematory.
|
|
|
