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Bonnie Jean (White) Burns, 71, a resident of Sun City West, died peacefully at home from pancreatic cancer on January 7.
She was born on April 21, 1953 in Fullerton, CA. Because her parents frequently relocated per their seasonal teaching contracts, Bonnie lived in several California communities during her childhood until her father became Barstow Community College president in 1967 and where she graduated Barstow High School in 1971, married, and raised a family.
She was proud of her career progression. While earning her B.S. degree in Nursing from the University of NY, she progressed from nursing home aide, vocational nurse, and registered nurse to Director of Nursing at Barstow Community Hospital. In 1991, while earning an MBA from the University of Luverne, Bonnie was recruited as COO of the Regional Medical Center in Coalinga, CA.
Five years later she met Bill Burns on a blind date, relocated to Fresno, and married him in Carmel-by-the-Sea on Nov. 28, 1997. There Bonnie was promoted to a Fresno County Dept of Social Services deputy director. A year after Bill retired as CEO of a national trade association, she also retired and they relocated in 2015 to Arizona.
Bonnie pursued many interests, always practicing good nutrition, routinely exercising, and living an active life. A participant in Barstow track events, she later ran the LA Marathon in 2001. She and Bill played bridge, danced Argentine tango, methodically played all central CA public golf courses, and were Fresno State Bulldog wrestling season ticket holders. Her hand-quilted entries won several Fresno County Fair blue ribbons.
In Arizona, Bonnie served as bridge club president, enjoyed target shooting, painting watercolors, dancing at Argentine tango milongas with Bill across the US and abroad, and played golf with her ‘gal pals’.
Within their pledge to ‘savor each moment’, they traveled the world, visiting both the Arctic and Antarctic Circles and 100 nations in between. When hosting friends at their home for movies, games, and celebrations, guests knew to expect themed menu or dessert items often based upon their travels.
Preceded by her parents Donald & Melva White and siblings Holly, Leslie, and Jim, Bonnie is survived by her husband Bill; sister Jennifer (and Bob) Lustbader, Portland, OR; children Tony Duarte, Colorado City, CO, Nick (and Ting) Barnes, Santa Monica, CA, Wenonah (and Max) Wilcox, San Diego, CA; five grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren.
Bonnie will be cremated and her ashes interred in the Burns section of Lakeview Cemetery in Eau Claire, WI. A remembrance will be 11:00a on Tuesday, January 28, at the Camino del Sol Funeral Chapel, 13738 W. Camino del Sol, Sun City West, AZ.
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