Constance Kistler Bradford, 90, passed away on Saturday, March 5, 2016, just six weeks after the passing of her husband of 68 years, Robert C. Bradford Jr.
Connie was the daughter of the Rev. Daniel D. and Jessie Peterson Kistler of Coopersburg, Pa. She was born on August 25, 1925, in Everett, Wash. She graduated from UNC in 1946 with a B.A. in fine arts. Arts and crafts were a lifelong interest. At the end of college, Connie met and married a good friend’s brother, Robert ‘Bob.’ While Bob completed Union Theological Seminary in Richmond in 1950, they had the first two of four children.
Beginning in 1950, Connie’s first service as a pastor’s wife was in rural in Winchester. They subsequently served in two more churches; Towson, Md., in 1957, and Virginia Beach in 1969, until retirement in 1986. Bob and Connie were beloved pillars of each church community. Connie accompanied Bob for two separate church exchanges in Australia, and they then enjoyed other travels including Turkey, England and Sweden.
Connie is survived by three of their four children; Robert C. Bradford III of Los Angeles, Calif., Deborah Stanley of Moreno Valley, Calif., and Frances Jimenez of Felton, Del. Their daughter, Celeste Johnson, passed away in October 2007. Connie and Bob are survived by five grandchildren; Erin Jimenez, Tiffany Jimenez, Jonathan Thoens, Chantelle Bradford Gerber and Kyle Bradford; and three great-grandchildren, Jonah Gerber, Phoebe Gerber and Piper Thumb.
A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. on Friday, March 11, at Thalia Trinity Presbyterian Church, 420 Thalia Road, Virginia Beach. In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to Thalia Trinity.
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