Marsha Joe Burns

She adored her grandchildren and would give ‘anything’ to see them. She loved to read, study history, shop, and have enjoyable conversation with her friends.

Marsha was born February 8th, 1940, in Houston, Texas to Mary Jane and Marshall Vandergriff. After her birth father was killed in WWII, her mother remarried to Albert Foster who adopted her at the age of two and became her caring, loving father until his passing. She graduated from Reagan High School in the Houston Heights and began college at Sam Houston State University. Towards the end of her freshman year, she had a blind date with Ray Burns who was a Senior at Texas A&M, they quickly fell in love and married three months later on July 25th, 1959 in Ganado, Texas. She stepped into the ‘military wife’ role where she blossomed as an officer’s wife for 30 years until Ray retired in 1989. While in Washington DC, Marsha went back to school to get her bachelor’s degree and worked for Interstate Van Lines-in sales where she utilized her moving skills from her annual military moves and became quite successful. They left Washington, DC and relocated back to College Station where they began their ‘new life’ in their home state of Texas. They became members at Pebble Creek Country Club and started their own moving company, Burns Moving & Storage. She thrived in sales with BMS, notably securing many contracts for moves through the A&M athletic department. Burns Moving & Storage eventually closed, and she moved on to her most cherished role in life… being a grandmother. She adored her grandchildren, and they became her world.

Towards the end of her journey on earth she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease, of which she battled for almost 10 years.

Marsha is preceded in death by her husband of 51 years, Colonel Ray Burns, her parents Albert and MaryJane Foster of Houston, her father and mother-in-law Raystell and Marie Burns of Ganado, her brother Ron Foster of Houston, her sister-in-law Julie Foster of Houston, her brother-in-law Henry Burns of Perth, Australia, her brother-in-law Rich Schoenfeld of New Braunfels and niece-in-law Alana Foster of San Antonio.

She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law Larry and Becke Burns of Houston, her grandchildren Chase Burns & wife Emily Burns and great-granddaughter Ellanor Burns of Austin, Will Burns & wife Kennan Burns and great-grandson Bejamin Burns of San Antonio, her granddaughter Kelsie Burns of College Station, her daughter Deiadra Burns and daughter-in-law Amanda Minkler of Dallas. She is also survived by her brother Al Foster of Houston, her sister-in-law Shirley Foster of Houston, her brother-in-law Anthony Burns of Inez, her sister-in-law Carol Schoenfeld of New Braunfels. She also leaves nieces and nephews Mark Foster of Seabrook, James Foster of New Braunfels, Craig & Wendi Foster of San Marcos, Jennifer & David Hildebrandt of Austin, Kelly Ann Foster of Houston, Leigh Ann & Byron Humes of Sweet Home, along with great nieces and great nephews Mason Foster, McKenna Foster, Evan Hildebrandt, Laine Hilderbrandt, Sean Humes and Blaine Humes.

A “Celebration of Life” will be held at the College Station Memorial Cemetery Aggie Field of Honor, 3800 Raymond Stotzer Pkwy, College Station, TX 77845 on April 11th, 2025 at 11:00 am.

The Burns family will welcome family and friends at 8495 Turkey Creek Road, College Station, TX 77845 immediately following the ceremony.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org) in Honor of Marsha Burns.