BARBARA JEAN THOMAS BEDFORD  1927 ~ 2017  
Passed away at the blessed age of 90 in the morning of August 25, 2017 at her care center in Bethesda, MD. Born on April 2, 1927 in Avinger, TX, she leaves behind her caring and loving husband, William J. Bedford; daughters, Geri Renee (Arie Verloop) and Phyllis Lynn (David Brown); granddaughters, Leslie Michelle Brown, Melanie Simone Brown and Jaime Danielle Brown; as well as a sister, Mary Leuna Thomas Smith and a brother, William Thedel Thomas.Barbara, daughter of John Henry Lewis Thomas and Mary Elizabeth Todd, was preceded in death by siblings, James Andrew, Gwendolyn Yvonne and Elizabeth Ann.After growing up in Tulsa, OK, she studied home economics at Tuskegee University. This is where she met Bill Bedford; they graduated and married in 1949. Bill's career as an officer in the US Air Force brought them to several military bases in the US, the Philippines as well as Istanbul, Turkey. After settling in the DC area as civilians, Barbara received her master's degree in nutrition from Howard University and became a teacher with DC public schools. Besides her homemaking skills, teaching credentials, and being a wonderful and loving mother and grandmother, Barbara had a keen eye and interest in real estate. Until recently, the family made many visits to their vacation property where Barbara tended her garden. Managing her rental properties in the DC area kept her mind sharp.Her cremation takes place Labor Day weekend. A memorial service and celebration of her life will take place this coming Spring, her favorite time of the year.