Christina Rae Boller Tsen

December 3, 1950 – February 14, 2024

Christina “Tina” Rae Boller Tsen, 73, of Spring, Texas, passed away peacefully February 14, 2024, surrounded by loved ones. She was living life to the fullest until an unexpected medical event happened on February 5, 2024.

Tina was a generous mentor, encouraging friend, patient teacher, and gracious leader; “she was the ultimate grace under pressure.” Dedicated, kind, lovely, clever, curious, caring, fun, discerning, sharp-witted, strong, trustworthy, and optimistic, she had an enthusiasm for life and a smile that could light up the room with a twinkle in her eye. Some of her tenets included the Golden Rule, the Serenity Prayer, 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, leading by example, live life to its fullest, and no movie or audio book is better than the book.

Born on December 3, 1950, in Frederick, Maryland to Clyde Richard Boller and Julia Christine Hollinger Boller, she was the middle of five children. Julia was a homemaker. Clyde served in the Army in WWII and worked for B&O Railroad. In 1965, the family road-tripped from Maryland to California with Clyde's 16mm camera, and returned with a postcard/brochure collection from countless State/National Parks and an everlasting love to travel. Tina attended Mt. Airy High School from 8th-11th grades, then in 1968 was in the first graduating class of the newly opened South Carroll High School. Influenced by her talented older sisters, her high school activities included President of the Junior Future Homemakers of America, Field Hockey, Cheerleading, County Orchestra, Eisteddfod Chorus, Girls' Athletic Association, Future Teachers of America, Majorette, General Prom Chairman, Yearbook Layout Editor, and Orpheus Choir.

Tina was awarded ‘Miss Fire Prevention 1967’ by the Mt. Airy Volunteer Fire Company and rode in a 1966 Chevy Impala in the 1967, 1968, and 1970 parades. She, her parents, and siblings often told this memory. She rode again in 1992, in a 1920’s roadster for the 25th anniversary.

In the Fall of 1968, Tina began studies at West Virginia Wesleyan College (WVWC), graduating in 1972 with a Major in Education and a Minor in Math. It was an amazing time to be at WVWC. Not only did Tina form lifelong bonds with her classmates and fall more in love with learning and teaching, but she also experienced major societal changes while on campus. In the 1960’s, they dressed for Sunday dinner, men could call only on Sunday afternoons in the presence of the house mother, and there was a curfew. Then, in the 1970’s, dorms opened and there were no more curfews, Sunday dinners, or required chapel services. At WVWC, Tina was recognized for Math Honorary, Murmurmontis (Yearbook) Section Editor, Women's Honorary, Sigma Eta Sigma (Academic Honor Society), Haught Literary Society (20 women selected from the senior class), Alpha Phi Gamma (Honor Society for Journalism & Broadcasting), and Kappa Delta Pi (Education Honor Society).

In 1975, she fell in love with and married Sam Tsen, from Hupeh, China, and they had two children. During their marriage, they lived in Findlay, OH, Chicago, IL, Agora Hills, CA, and Newtown Square, PA, before settling in Houston, Texas. Tina and Sam divorced in 1993.

Tina was an adored educator for 31 years; 27 of those years at Ehrhardt Elementary School in Klein ISD. She received her Master of Education from Sam Houston State University in 2008 and became the Assistant Principal at Ehrhardt. In 2016, she retired, and hundreds of students and teachers gathered to sing an original composition for Tina to lovingly bid her farewell.

Since the 1990's, Tina danced competitively and socially. She was a sight to behold on the dance floor; she loved to dance, loved to teach dancing (she gave a two-step lesson at Stephanie and Cilton's wedding) and especially loved the way she felt when dancing. She danced not only with the best of the best leaders but also with the beginners finding their footing. One of those Texas gentlemen was Bruce Brinson whom she met on the dance floor in 2005. Unknown to the other until much later, when one went out to dance, they hoped the other would be there. One day Cupid's arrow ignited a wonderful relationship, lasting with their hands joined to her final breath.

True to Tina form, retirement was a time to “go big” and live fully. She traveled far and often. She spent much quality time with her children and grandchildren eating, cooking, baking, sewing, gardening, watching the Astros, birdwatching, moon gazing, playing games, reading (she borrowed 629 books on the Libby app alone since 2017), and loving nature. She supported her grandkids’ academic and athletic pursuits. She delighted in dancing, hand-written letters, yoga, the Beatles, book club, word puzzles, going to the museum/theater/symphony, and finding good restaurants. She loved her boyfriend, Bruce.

She is survived by her beloved two children and their spouses, Stephanie Rae Tsen (and husband Cilton) of Austin, TX, and Charles Tsen (and wife Harriet) of Portland, OR. Tina, affectionately known as “Gran” will also be sweetly missed by her four beloved grandchildren: Owen Beard, Elliot Tsen, Julia Beard, and Gabriella Tsen. She is also survived by dear sisters Susan Boller (and friend Dick) of Rocky Ridge, MD, and Melissa Sadtler (and husband Brian) of Williamsport, MD, dear brother Thomas Boller (and girlfriend Jen) of Mobile, AL, and many cherished nieces, nephews, and cousins. Tina was preceded in death by her beloved parents and eldest sister Cynthia Kirby.

Tina was baptized January 7, 1951, in St. John’s Lutheran Church at Littlestown, Pennsylvania and confirmed in the United Methodist Church. Though she had many adventures planned for 2024, she took her greatest journey of all and now rejoices in heaven. The fruit of her spirit is love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23).

The family would like to thank the expert staff at Memorial Hermann Woodlands Neuroscience ICU for the highest level of stroke and patient care, and Kelly and Brady Hull for lovingly hosting Stephanie, Charlie, and their families near the hospital.

Tina touched the lives of many people, she is so loved, and she will be greatly missed. A memorial service will be held May 11, 2024, at the George H.W. Bush Community Center, 6827 Cypresswood Drive, Spring, TX, for family, friends, colleagues, and former students. As details are known, they will be shared on the 'Events' section of this memorial website. To see some of Tina's beautiful life in pictures, please visit the 'Timeline' section of this memorial website.

Send to someone

Share this obituary with others

https://everloved.com/life-of/christina-tsen/obituary/

Copy