IRVINGTON—Barbara Ann Brautigam, 90, of Irvington died April 27, 2024, at Rappahannock Westminster-Canterbury retirement community.
She was born May 12, 1933, to W. Marian Mitchell and Kathleen Richards Mitchell in West Middlesex, Pa.
Barbara attended Sharon High School in Sharon, Pa., and Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pa. She was a member of the Delta Delta Delta sorority (also known as Tri Delta) at Carnegie Mellon.
She married James Frye in 1956 and had four children, Nanna, Benjamin, Gretchen and Jason. She married Richard Brautigam in 1977.
Barbara was a home economics teacher for a year at Sharon High before leaving to raise a family. She took up her career again as a home economics teacher in 1974 at Sharpsville, Pa. She also worked at the Naval Foundation in Annapolis, Md.
Among her volunteer work, she was on the Board of Trustees at Rappahannock Westminster-Canterbury for seven years. She served a year as president of the “Parents and Friends” support organization for Glenelg Country School in Maryland. She also worked for the Howard County Republican Party.
She is survived by three of her four children; daughters-in-law, Shelly Moore and Melissa Frye; and her three grandchildren; Elle, Adrian and Kaley.
Barbara was preceded in death by her parents; both husbands; and her eldest son, Ben.
A private service will be held in Kilmarnock.
Barbara was an unofficial social secretary wherever she lived. Whether it was a coffee gathering at the kitchen table or the famous ODT (“One Drink Tuesday”) cocktail hour, she brought neighbors and strangers together. She followed in the steps of her mother and mother-in-law in being an avid and successful stock investor. How many of us can claim 70+ years of driving without an accident? Barbara took pride in that accomplishment.
She was an avid knitter and produced dozens of prayer shawls that were distributed by the St. Andrews Presbyterian Church. A longtime member of St. Andrews, she served several sessions as a ruling elder and hosted coffee hour many times. She and her husband, Dick, anonymously donated the new pew cushions to St. Andrews a few years ago. Strongest trait? She was super organized. She was a master list maker and did not miss deadlines! She also excelled as a bridge player.
Having a sense of adventure, Barbara drove cross-country and back in her convertible with her mother shortly after graduating from college. That sense of adventure continued with the many boat trips she and Dick took on Lake Erie in their sailboat and later on Chesapeake Bay and along the eastern seaboard in their motorboat.
A private service will be held in Kilmarnock.
A devoted friend to many, Barbara will be missed. Cards may be sent to her daughter: Nanna Frye, 1501 North Crossing Way, Decatur, GA 30033.
