Robert J. Burns, 78, of Pensacola, FL passed away on Sunday, November 6, 2011. Captain Burns had resided in Pensacola since 1981. He retired from the U. S. Marine Corps in 1975, after 22 years of service. In the course of his Marine Corps career, he served in the Officer Procurement/Recruiting Service in Boston, MA, as a training advisor to the Korean Marine Corps, Seoul, Korea, and at various times with the 1st, 2nd and 3d Marine Divisions, Fleet Marine Force, both domestically and overseas, including Vietnam. Captain Burns attended Villanova University, graduated from Chaminade University, Honolulu (BS), and Pepperdine University, CA (MA (Ed)). After his retirement from the Marine Corps, Bob joined the Field Staff of the American Red Cross, Service to the Armed Forces Division, serving at Camp Lejeune, NC, and later with the 3rd Marine Division (4th and 9th Marine Regiments) located at Camps Hansen and Schwab, on Okinawa, Japan. He then went on to serve in his Red Cross capacity with V Corps, U.S. Army, at Frankfurt am Main, in then-West Germany, and finally at the American Red Cross Field Office at NAS, Pensacola, from where he retired in August of 1995. After retirement from the Red Cross, Captain Burns served, inter alia, primarily as a volunteer investigative assistant in the Investigation Division, Missing Persons Unit, Escambia County Sheriff's Office, identifying, tracking, and recovering runaway children for six and a half years. Bob also served as an active member of the U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Flotilla 1-7, headquartered and operating from the Coast Guard Station, NAS, Pensacola for several years. Bob was a generous and giving gentleman who quietly donated funds to local charitable institutions and the Escambia County Sheriff's Office. Upon learning of the need for additional canine deputies to interdict drugs entering our schools, Bob donated $7,200.00 for the procurement of a new K-9 unit member, Argo. Bob's generosity was recognized by the award of the Sheriff's Civilian Service Medal and in a segment of the "Angels in Our Midst" series presentation on Channel 3, WEAR, Pensacola. Captain Burns is survived by his brother, William (Joan) of Williamsburg, VA; sister, Ruth Buck of Marietta, GA; daughter, Robin Burns-Spero (Michael); son, Thomas Burns of Westerly, RI and son, Sean Burns of Bradford, MA. Bob was predeceased by his constant companion and best friend, Reggie. An inscribed paver in the Plaza de Luna area, Palafox Pier, Pensacola commemorates and memorializes Bob's selfless service and devotion to his fellow Americans and our country. Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia. No services will be conducted in the Pensacola area prior to interment in Arlington Cemetery. HARPER-MORRIS MEMORIAL CHAPEL is in charge of arrangements.