Iona Burrow

Iona Faye Burrow passed away peacefully on December 24, 2020 at Waco, TX after a short period of decline. She was born on December 29, 1915 in Eastland County, TX to Robert and May Middleton, the middle child of eleven.

She grew up on a farm in West Texas, learning to work hard and make do, even more so when her father died when she was 11. She also received practical life lessons as a college student when the Depression was ending, as a young pastor’s wife, as a mother grieving the loss of two children, and as a soldier’s wife waiting for her husband to return home while managing life on ration books.

Early on she committed her life to faith in God and serving Him. Throughout her life she studied the Bible, taught it and sought to live by it as best she could. An interest in missions was a passion of her life, influencing her family and the many Baptist churches where she served.  Over the years she taught missions to all age groups, mentored young women, visited the mission field in Africa where one of her sons served, and even to her last days continued to pray daily and give regularly to support missionaries. Her ministry continued to friends in each of several retirement homes where she has lived.

She was an educator, teaching elementary school in three states. Once she was principal and teacher at a one-room school and also taught in large suburban schools. Her commitment was always that students leaving her class were reading at grade level or above.

She lived in Texas, Louisiana, Washington State and California. Her qualities of hard work, grit, determination, faith and hope, love for family, love for the Lord and his church, a desire to help others have blessed the lives of all those she has touched.

She is survived by her two sons, Rev Larry Burrow of Hewitt, TX and his wife Becky, Dr Olan Burrow of Kenya and his wife Lynn, her sister Zoe Koinzan of Houston, her grandchildren Stephen Burrow and D’Ann of Orlando, FL, Carol Friend and Clayton of Lindale, TX, Robert Burrow and Michele of Richmond, VA, Carlos Colon of Waco, TX, eight great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Rev Henry Burrow, her children Doris Jean and James Weldon, and her granddaughter Dr. Susan Burrow Colon.

Services for Mrs. Burrow will be 10:00 am in the Chapel of Broadway Funeral Directors with Rev Tim Thornton officiating.  Burial will follow in the City of Lubbock Cemetery under the direction of Broadway Funeral Directors. A memorial service will be announced for the summer. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages gifts to a local or international mission of your choice or to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering at a local Baptist church.