Barbara Bristow
Barbara Bristow
Barbara Jane (Brock) Bristow departed this earth on Aug. 15, 2025, at the age of 76. She passed away following emergency open-heart surgery at Banner University Hospital, Phoenix, Ariz. Barbara passed away peacefully and with dignity in the arms of her husband of 55 years, Dave, her son David of Richmond, Calif., and her daughter Andrea of Winchester, Va. She is now safe in the arms of her Savior, Jesus Christ.
Barbara was born on Sept. 26, 1948, in Forest Hill, Md., to Pearl Amaryllis and Arl Woodrow Brock. She attended elementary and high school in Harford County, Md., and furthered her education at Harford Community College. In the fall of 1968, Barbara embarked on a cross-country trip in a VW bus.
Barbara and Dave’s love story began when they met during his helicopter pilot training in the U.S. Army. A year later, after Dave’s return from Vietnam, he proposed to Barbara on their first date. Together, they were blessed with a son, David, and a daughter, Andrea. Barbara’s family was the light of her life, and she was a wonderful wife and mother, as well as a dedicated and involved U.S. Army officer’s wife. As her husband continued his career in the U.S. Army, their travels took Barbara around the world, living in Korea, West Germany, Japan, and several states across the U.S., including Virginia, California, Pennsylvania, and Kansas.
Ever industrious, Barbara held numerous occupations; she was a secretary for business executives and a high school principal, worked with blind children teaching them Braille, drove a school bus, and organized home health care support in a Kansas hospital. After Dave’s retirement, Barbara and Dave settled in Goodyear, Ariz., where they have lived for the past 10 years enjoying traveling and vacationing around the world, seeking new experiences together.
Barbara had the unique ability to quickly build warm and sincere connections with others. She was a loving, beautiful, and well-liked individual whose kind nature, coupled with her reserved and thoughtful demeanor, touched the lives of everyone she met. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
Barbara is survived by her loving husband of 55 years Dave, her son David Bristow III and his wife Heather, her daughter Andrea Forrester and her husband Ian, and two grandchildren, Kaitlynn, whom Barbara lovingly raised for 14 years, and Beatrix who is 2 years old. Barbara is also survived by a brother, Burton Brock, and sisters, Bernetta Casseri and Brenda Chalk. She was preceded in death by her brother Bradford and her parents, Pearl and Arl Brock.
Her family requests privacy as they cope with the loss of their beloved Barbara. In lieu of flowers, they ask that any contributions be given to your favorite charity to help make this world better.