Deborah Ruth Miles Burch, 66, of Bryan, lost her battle with cancer on August 1, 2015. She was born in Lampasas, Texas to Barbara Ruth Duncan Miles and the late Robert M. Miles on September 22, 1948. Deborah spent her early life in Odessa, Texas where she graduated from Permian High School. She moved to Richardson, Texas with her family in 1969. There she completed her college studies with a degree from North Texas State University. She later moved to Austin, Texas where she met the love of her life. In April 1977, she met Thomas F. Burch whom she affectionately called Tommy. She and Tommy married two and half months later that year and shared 38 years of marriage. They moved to Bryan shortly after they were married. Debbie was a devout Christian and worked at Calvary Baptist Church were she had just completed her 20th year as secretary. She spent over twenty-five years working with young children in daycare centers as a teacher or administrator. Deborah was heartbroken when her health no longer allowed her to work in the church nursery. She loved her little ones!
Debbie leaves behind many people that she loved and who loved her. She is survived by her loving husband Tommy; her mother and step-dad Barbara and Bruce Ellsworth of Parker, Texas; her brothers Robert Miles and wife Cindy of Gardendale, Texas, Mark Miles of Princeton, Texas, her sister Vickie and husband Monte Blanchett, of Richardson, Texas; her sister-in-law Linda Burch and her brother-in-law and sister-in-law Stan Burch and LeEster Burch. Her nieces Cylena, Angela, April, Kari, Savannah and Scarlett; her nephews Clifton, Justin and Mitch will miss her. She also leaves behind two great-nieces and two great-nephews as well as many other family members. She will be truly missed, especially by her childhood friends Ruth Schmid and Julie McAnally and her best buddy Ronnie Barnes.
Deborah will join in a happy reunion with her dad Mitch Miles and her brother John Paul Miles, as well as numerous other family members who have preceded her in death. Debbie was a bright light in an otherwise dark world. She was a loving wife, daughter, sister, and family member as well as a loyal friend. She was always there for the people she loved. She will be missed!
A memorial service for Debbie will be held at 2pm, Thursday, August 6, 2015 at Calvary Baptist Church, 2009 Cavitt Avenue in Bryan. She was laid to rest in private on Monday, August 3, 2015 in Bryan City Cemetery. In lieu of flowers please make donations to the Aggieland Humane Society or to Hospice Brazos Valley. Life Tribute Services are in the care of Callaway-Jones Funeral Home and Crematory.
I am so sorry to hear that Debbie passed away
I am so sorry that Debbie passed away
I am so sorry for your loss. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
Debbie your welcome was the warmest, and your smile the widest, every year at Reunion. I’ll miss you, but feel you on my shoulder, every time the sun shines. I’ll remember you.
It is with great sympathy and love that Philip and I send our condolences and prayers.
So sorry to hear of Debbie’s passing. Thoughts and prayers go out to Tom and Barbara & Bruce and the rest of the family. She was an angel on earth and now she’s one in heaven. You will be missed Debbie.
This loss will be felt by more people than you could ever imagine. Debbie (or “Miss Debbie” as my sons called her) shined the light of Christ to all she knew. Compassionate and loving, she held a very special place in my heart and the hearts of my children. I met Debbie at the FBC Child Development Center on the day I dropped my son off for his first day at daycare – he is now 31. She held me as I cried and reassured me that he would be just fine. He was, and she had a friend for life! She made sure that each child leaving for the day got a hug and on Friday, they also got jellybeans. Everyone loved jellybean day! At the time my first son was going to Elementary school, my second son had started daycare with Miss Debbie. I spent 9 years seeing Debbie every weekday. I don’t remember ever seeing her without a smile on her face. My boys loved her as did I. Heavens gain is our loss. God Bless you, Debbie, from the bottom of this mommas heart.
I am so sorry for your loss of this dear one! My entire family loved the entire Miles family. My prayers, thoughts and love go out to you my sweet friend Vickie and all the family. May the Lord just wrap you in his arms and carry you right now. Bryan is such a wonderful place to have lived! We had family of friends we visited and it does my heart good to know she lived there. God bless all my Miles’s.
Debbie’s death brings such sadness and sorrow into the hearts of those who knew her and her wonderful family. She was in a Sunday School Class I taught when she was in her early college years. Then, as now, she was a beautiful woman in every way. She projected her love and caring for people in every dimension of her life. She was blessed by her wonderful family as well as being a blessing to them. May God wrap His loving arms around this family and hold them in His hands as we celebrate her life and express our thanks to Him for making her a part of our wonderful lives. Just as Jesus showed us the way to live our lives, Debbie has shown us how she chose to follow Him. God bless us all.
My condolences.
The reunion just won’t be the same without her.
All my love,
Kim Miles Myerly
I am so sorry for your loss. I send my condolences to you Vicky and your whole entire family. I never knew your sister or met her but i’m sure she was a great person. This is a beautiful way to remember your sister. May God wrap his arms around you and your family and comfort you with peace. God Bless.
Sorry for your loss. I send love and prayers to all of you.
Debbie Burch was our church secretary for more than twenty years of the more than thirty years I served as pastor of Calvary Baptist Church. It deeply saddened us when she was diagnosed with cancer. These past few months have been difficult but Debbie not only bravely battled her cancer but continued to faithfully fulfill her ministry at Calvary. To her husband Tom, and to all the Calvary Baptist Church and friends, we extend our love and prayers in this time of sorrow.
David and Alba Murphy
Tommy, Linda and all your family, you are in my prayers as you go through this sad time. I have been there, Tommy and know your grief. Linda, you shared with me what a wonderful person Debbie was. I will pray for all of you tomorrow and wish I was there with you .
I’m very sorry for your loss. Praying for you and your family.
She was such a sweet lady. My brother attended her daycare and loved her
I am so sorry for the loss of “Miss Debbie”. She meant a lot to my family when we were neighbors. She was always so welcoming to my children and would open her home for them to visit. Thank you for being so kind to all whose path you crossed. I will see you in Glory!