Robert and Penny Burns

Robert and Penny Burns recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at their home in Glen Ellen, surrounded by friends and family members from far and wide. Both from Chicago originally, they met in the seventh grade and were married in their hometown on July 10, 1965.

They relocated to Southern California for Robert’s work as an aeronautical engineer with McDonell-Douglas. In 1971, they relocated again to the Wine Country and have been in the same home ever since. Many years and many modifications later, it served as the backdrop to their anniversary party.

Being enterprising and hardworking, Robert was the owner/operator of Triangle Auto Body, and Penny owned and operated The Secret Garden, both located right on their property so they could be business owners without sacrificing high-quality family time until retirement. Penny also spent 10 years serving the community on the Sonoma Unified School District board.

They raised their son, Eric, and daughter, Kristine, and now spend as much time as they can traveling with friends in their motor home, carving, teaching above-water basket-weaving, and playing with their grandchildren Robert (child of Eric and his wife, Mary) and Emilie (child of Kristine and her husband, Greg).