Bobby Joe Burrus

Bob J. Burrus was born on September 7, 1933, in Oklahoma City, OK, to Sam Thomas and Lota (Cotton) Burrus. 

Bob was a graduating member of the Class of 1951 of Harlandale High School in San Antonio, Texas. He furthered his education with two years at Arlington State College (now known at UTA) and three years at Southern Methodist University (SMU) earning his bachelor’s degree in business administration. 

After college, Bob worked as an accountant/auditor for Skillern Drug Stores and then Kroger Foods. On March 5, 1965, Bob married Katherine Boldt in Dallas, Texas. Merging and beautifully blending two families which quickly became one family. Together they had five children, Kevin, Cindy, Keith, Karen, and Sam. They raised their children in Grapevine and were members of the Colleyville Church of Christ. All five children were graduates of Grapevine High School. 

In 1966, Bob joined his uncle and aunt, Sug and Vera Burrus, as a manager at the newly built Burrus Thrif-tee Store in Grapevine, Texas. Eventually, they opened a store in Colleyville in 1970. In 1974, Bob and Kay bought the two stores from his uncle and aunt, and the expansion began. At the height of Burrus Supermarket, Inc., Bob, and Kay owned six grocery stores in Grapevine, Colleyville, Sanger, River Oaks, Roanoke, and Justin. Bob always had the philosophy that if you took care of your customers and your employees, they would take care of you…and they did. All five of Bob and Kay’s children worked along-side of them starting in high school until the business was sold in 2003. A true family owned and operated business, built from the ground up.

Bob served on GCISD School Board from 1974 - 1980, serving as Vice President during his second term. While serving on the GCISD school board, Bob was a leader in developing the co-op program for the school district. He employed hundreds of high school students, in each of the stores, working with their schedules so they could still participate in extracurricular activities at school. In addition, Bob was an ardent supporter of children with special needs and employed them in each of his stores. In addition to employing students, Burrus Supermarket made large donations to organizations in each school district surrounding the stores, which included, but are not limited to, the High School Yearbook, FFA, Band, and the athletic programs, in each school district. Bob received the Friend of Education Award, and he was appointed to the GCISD Walk of Honor.

Bob worked hard to grow and expand his business. In doing so he served on various boards as well as receiving awards in the grocery industry. He became President of North Central Texas Food Industry Assn., he was appointed to the Affiliated Foods Store Board of Directors twice, where he served as treasurer, President, and then Chairman of the Board. He served a three-year term with the Texas Retail Grocers Association. Bob left Affiliated Foods and joined Fleming Wholesale Grocers becoming President of IGA Stores served by Fleming in Texas. In 1998, Burrus Supermarkets celebrated its 50th year in business, and in 2000 was selected as 1 of 6 International Retailers of the Year. In 2003, he sold the stores and he and Kay retired.

In addition to his career in the grocery business, Bob served his community and the school district with conviction and integrity. He was a member of the Grapevine Rotary Club where he served as treasurer and President and was a recipient of the Paul Harris Fellow Award and Rotarian of the Year. He was appointed as the first President of the Airport Cities Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Grapevine Citizens Advisory Committee, and the American Bank of Commerce Advisory Board. 

Bob started the Grapevine Banner with Mike Story and Ken Lynch; he was a recipient of the Colleyville Business of the Year. He was major contributor of several orphanages. He strongly supported GRACE in Grapevine. Bob received the Grapevine Chamber of Commerce’s D. E Box Citizen of the Year. Additionally, the Baylor Board of Directors in Dallas appointed Bob to be a Trustee on the Board of Directors of the Baylor Grapevine Medical Center. He served nine years and was recipient of the Keeper of the Flame Award. He was a donor of a new wing at Baylor Hospital Grapevine, now known as Baylor Scott and White Medical Center of Grapevine. He was a stunt Level donor to the Palace Theater, now known as Lancaster Theatre.

In 1996, he and Kay moved to Alvarado, and were members of the Alvarado Church of Christ where Bob served as a deacon. Upon Kay’s passing, Bob returned to Grapevine where he remained active in the Rotary Club, the Grapevine Historical Society, and the Grapevine Church of Christ until COVID hit in 2020.

With all of Bob’s accolades in tow, he is most proud to be Dad to Kevin Burrus and wife of Jo of Paradise, Cindy Burrus of North Richland Hills, Keith Burrus and wife Lisa of Grandview, Karen Burrus and Ian Punches of Itasca, and Sam Thomas Burrus and wife, DeAnn of Sanger. He was affectionately known as “Paw Paw” to 11 Grandchildren, Holly Stump, Justin Burrus, Tye Kinnibrugh, Shannon Sanders, Whitney Ferrell, Windi Kay Ward, Katie Heileman, Kylie Jimenez, Joshua Thomas Burrus, Matthew Gaisbauer, and Patrick Gaisbauer; twenty-two great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren, all who survive him. Additionally, nieces Amanda Burrus Talaat and Mary Ellis Langford, and brother-in-law, Christian Boldt, also survive him. Bob is preceded in death by his mother, brother, Swan Thomas “Tom” Burrus, and his beautiful wife, Kay.