Obituary of Robert L. Burns

Services will be held at Santa Cruz Memorial Park and Funeral Home on Thursday, January 5, 2017 at 10:00am for Robert L. Burns, a retired U.S. Foreign Service officer, who died on December 24, 2016 in Santa Cruz, CA. He was 90. Mr. Burns was born in Oakland and grew up in Washington, D.C. He settled in Santa Cruz in 1997. Following naval service in the Pacific in World War II, he graduated from The George Washington University, where he pursued graduate studies. Mr. Burns entered the Department of State in 1949, subsequently serving in Beirut, Jerusalem, France, Germany, the Netherlands and New Zealand as well as Washington. He also had held a reserve commission in Naval Intelligence. Mr. Burns, whose wife Ruth died in 1998, was a member of the American Foreign Service Association, Military Officers Association of America and Sons in Retirement. He also belonged to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion and the U.S.S. LCI Association. Over a period of years, he served as an officer of the United Veterans Council of Santa Cruz County. He is survived by daughter Roberta Burns of Santa Cruz, sons Arthur and Scott of Santa Cruz, son Gregory of Cupertino and Singapore, and grandsons Grant and Cole Margerum of Santa Cruz. Contributions are preferred to Hospice of Santa Cruz County, 940 Disc Drive, Scotts Valley, CA 95066.