Shirley Jeanne Bedford

Shirley Jeanne Bedford, age 79, of Manassas, Virginia died on March 27, 2015 at ManorCare- Fair Oaks Nursing Home after nine months of illness. Shirley was born on August 24, 1935 in Scranton, Pennsylvania to Oscar and Jeanne Evans. She was a teenage bride, traveling to Germany to marry Edward James Bedford, where he was serving in the U.S. Air Force, and there they lived in Erding, Germany. After her husband’s discharge, they settled in Livingston, New Jersey where Shirley had two children, Edward James Bedford, born October 1, 1957 and Barry Keith Bedford, born on April 17, 1960. Barry was born on Easter Sunday, and Shirley would tell the story of waking her 2 ½ year old son up at 3 a.m. to hunt for the Easter eggs before she would leave for the hospital. Shirley moved from Livingston, New Jersey to Ridgefield, Connecticut in 1967. She lived in Ridgefield until her retirement in 1999, when she moved to Manassas to be closer to her children and their families. Shirley was a stay at home wife and mother for many years. She was an active PTA and school volunteer and a Cub Scout Den Mother. Shirley loved animals, and her homes always had cats, as well as a few dogs and other assorted pets. Shirley was also an avid reader and loved to travel. Above all, however, she loved spending time with her family. After she was widowed, she was employed by General Electric Credit Corporation in Stamford, CT, which became GE Capital, where she quickly rose through the ranks to become the head of their Customer Service Department. She retired from GE Capital in 1999. Shirley is survived by her two sons and their wives, Edward and Jamezetta Bedford of Chapel Hill, North Carolina and Barry and Kathi Bedford of Fairfax Station, Virginia. Shirley is also survived by nine grandchildren, a granddaughter-in-law, and three great-grandchildren. James Edward Bedford and wife Lindsay Travis Bedford, plus their children James Bryce Bedford and Eliza Marie Bedford of Sacramento, CA, Shannon Cody Bedford of Pittsboro, NC, Kevin Michael Bedford of Chapel Hill, NC, Kara Morgan Bedford of Fairfax, Virginia, Casey Abigail Bedford of Fairfax Station, Virginia, Taylor Riane Bedford and daughter Burkelee Evans Bedford of Fairfax Station, Virginia, Andrew Hunter Bedford, Gunnar Stonewall Bedford and Riley Bryce Bedford, all of Fairfax Station, Virginia. Shirley was predeceased by her spouse Edward James Bedford on October 12, 1975, her mother Jeanne C. Evans on February 7, 1990, her father Oscar D. Evans on June 29, 1960, and her brother Lynne D. Evans on March 31, 1998.

Shirley Jeanne Bedford

August 24, 1935 - March 27, 2015