Former First Lady to the State of Hawai'i as wife of three-term Governor John A. Burns (1909-1975). She was born to Thomas Stanton and Bessie (Majors) Van Vleet, both educators, in 1906, and was a descendant of Colonel Alexander Majors, a co-founder of the Pony Express. Graduating from San Jose Hospital School of Nursing in 1928, she became a registered nurse in the U.S. Army Nurse corps, serving at San Francisco's Letterman Army Hospital and Honolulu's Schofield Barracks. During her O'ahu assignment, Bea met her future husband and they married on 08 Jun 1931 at Schofield Barracks. Together they had four children—William, who died from premature birth in 1935 when Bea became ill with polio in her final trimester; John A. Burns, Jr.; Sheenagh M. Burns; and Judge James S. Burns. The polio left Bea paralyzed from the waist down, though her disability did not hold her back. She was recognized by Alabama Governor George Wallace at the Democratic National Convention and by popular columnist Ann Landers as a person who was not defined by being confined to a wheelchair. In 1960, she was named "Polio Mother of Hawaii" and "Hawaii's Mother of the Year" in 1963. During her husband's tenure as Governor (1962-1974), Bea oversaw the restoration of Washington Place, the residence of the Governor of Hawaii. In 1982, Bea received the Trustees Award from University of Hawaii Foundation as "one who was still vibrant and energetic and fully involved with her life and the life of the community."
Former First Lady to the State of Hawai'i as wife of three-term Governor John A. Burns (1909-1975). She was born to Thomas Stanton and Bessie (Majors) Van Vleet, both educators, in 1906, and was a descendant of Colonel Alexander Majors, a co-founder of the Pony Express. Graduating from San Jose Hospital School of Nursing in 1928, she became a registered nurse in the U.S. Army Nurse corps, serving at San Francisco's Letterman Army Hospital and Honolulu's Schofield Barracks. During her O'ahu assignment, Bea met her future husband and they married on 08 Jun 1931 at Schofield Barracks. Together they had four children—William, who died from premature birth in 1935 when Bea became ill with polio in her final trimester; John A. Burns, Jr.; Sheenagh M. Burns; and Judge James S. Burns. The polio left Bea paralyzed from the waist down, though her disability did not hold her back. She was recognized by Alabama Governor George Wallace at the Democratic National Convention and by popular columnist Ann Landers as a person who was not defined by being confined to a wheelchair. In 1960, she was named "Polio Mother of Hawaii" and "Hawaii's Mother of the Year" in 1963. During her husband's tenure as Governor (1962-1974), Bea oversaw the restoration of Washington Place, the residence of the Governor of Hawaii. In 1982, Bea received the Trustees Award from University of Hawaii Foundation as "one who was still vibrant and energetic and fully involved with her life and the life of the community."
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