Bessie Mathilda Barnstead – Virginia Beach

Bessie Mathilda Barnstead died on March 29, 2011 at age 94 in Virginia Beach. She was the daughter of the late Minnie Rutz Lambert Sealey and Homer Arthur Lambert. Bess was born on July 15, 1916 in E. Braintree, VT, and was predeceased by her husband Robert E. Barnstead Sr. and her long time companion, Col. Roy I. Brooks. She was also predeceased by her son, Robert E. Barnstead, Jr., her daughter, Alyce Barnstead Miller, her brothers Romaine, Lawrence, and Mitchell, and her great granddaughter, Jade Miller.
She is survived by her children, Lynne Rush Dan, Barbara Walker David, Douglas Betty, and Elisabeth Hansen JW, and her daughter–in-law, Margaret Barnstead. She had 12 grandchildren, 25 great grandchildren, and 2 great, great grandchildren. She also leaves numerous nieces and nephews.
Bess was devoted to her family. She was a career Navy wife who moved with her husband and children all over the world. She raised her six children in many duty stations, and contributed greatly to the lives of several dear, “nearly hers”, children. She had two great loves and was loved in return by those two wonderful gentlemen.
She had a 20 year career at the Armed Forces Staff College Library, and enjoyed travelling the world to every continent except Antarctica. She said she had no desire to go to Antarctica as she grew up in Vermont and had experienced all the snow and ice she ever cared to see.
Among many other accomplishments, Bess attended the University of Vermont, graduated from Bay Path Business College in Massachusetts, was a Cub Scout Den Mother, a Girl Scout Troop Leader, a Job’s Daughters Bethel Guardian, a Cape Henry Woman’s Club member and volunteer, and sang alto in the Lynnhaven Colony Congregational Church Choir. She volunteered over 4, 000 hours at the Coast Guard Museum at 24th St. in Virginia Beach, and was always ready to help those in need.
She was a hard working, compassionate woman and she provided a wonderful example to her family and to everyone else of how to use the life she had been given to the very best. She worked hard, lived fully and loved well – a life well spent.
The family would like to thank the delightful caregivers who enhanced the quality of Bess’s final years: Gwen, Pat, Jessica, Linda, Shalimar, Marion, Maureen, Evelyn, and Pauline.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Lynnhaven Colony Congregational Church. A memorial service will be held at 6:00 p.m. on July 13 at Lynnhaven Colony Congregational Church and burial will be at 11:00 a.m. on July 15 in Arlington National Cemetery. Online condolences may be expressed at www.cremate.org.