Robert L. Burns Sr.

Robert L. Burns, Sr. February 11, 1937 - December 27, 2008 Robert L. Burns, Sr., 71, of Mill Hall, passed away Saturday, Dec. 27, 2008, at his residence after a lengthy illness. He was born Feb. 11, 1937, in Orange, N.J., to William and Gertrude (Wahl) Burns. He was married Jan. 11, 1964, to the former Evelyn E. Price and they recently celebrated their 44th wedding anniversary together. Robert was a graduate of Rutgers University where he received a Bachelor of Arts in chemistry. He was a member of the American Chemical Society and the Mid State Trail Association. He enjoyed hiking, bicycling, cross-country skiing and woodworking. Robert worked as a process development chemist at Lonza, Inc. of Williamsport and Ruetgers Organics, State College. He served in the U.S. Army Chemical Corps from 1961 to 1963. Surviving are his loving wife, Evelyn; daughters, Elizabeth Burns and her husband, Gary Proehl, of Windham, N.H., and Margaret Burns, of Dedham, Maine; son, Robert L. Burns, Jr. and wife, Sigrid Berg, of Glenburn, Maine; grandchildren, Kyle Proehl and Julia Burns; and brother, William Burns, of Daytona Beach, Fla. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 2, 2009, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Route 64, 6220 Nittany Valley Drive, Mill Hall, with the Rev. W. Stevens Shipman officiating. Friends and relatives will be received at the church one hour prior to the service. The family will provide flowers. Memorial contributions may be made to Community Nursing Service of Clinton County, 124 Woodward Ave., Lock Haven, PA 17745 or the Mid State Trail Association, P.O. Box 167, Boalsburg, PA 16827. Arrangements are under the direction of the Helt Funeral Chapel, 232 Hogan Blvd., Mill Hall. Online condolences can be sent to www.bestlifetributes.com.