Longtime county resident Bill Burns, an active equestrian and retired Santa Barbara County Sheriff's lieutenant, died Sunday, Nov. 1, two weeks after suffering a head injury in an accident at the family ranch near Lompoc.

A gathering to celebrate his life is planned for 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10, at Live Oak Camp off Highway 154 near Rancho San Marcos Golf Course.

Burns, 68, and his wife Chris were active members of the Santa Ynez Valley's equestrian community. He was a past president of the Santa Barbara County Trail Riders and a member of the Rancheros Visitadores, with whom he participated in the annual ride to the Janeway Ranch.

He joined the county sheriff's department in 1972 after Marine Corps service as a U.S. embassy guard in several countries and seven years in law enforcement. He retired from the department as a lieutenant after serving 33 years.

In 1965, he married Patricia Chandler, whom he met while serving at the U.S. embassy in Sudan. They had two children, Michael Wayne Burns and Kristy Lynn Burns.

In 1989, he married Chris Lawler, and they operated a 22-acre ranch in the hills between Lompoc and Buellton while working together at the sheriff's department.

He is survived by his wife, Chris; son Michael; daughter Kristy Heller and son-in-law Michael Heller; and granddaughters Katelyn and Kiersten.

Dudley-Hoffman Mortuary and Crematory in Santa Maria is in charge of arrangements.