Barbara B. Kirchhausen

Barbara Bradshaw Kirchhausen passed away Sunday, September 15, 2024 in Ellicott City, MD after a long illness. She is survived by her children Julia, Susan, William, and Richard (Elizabeth Arruda); and many adoring nieces and nephews. Preceding her in death was her husband of 56 years, Martin Kirchhausen.

Barbara was born on November 20, 1939 in Columbia, South Carolina and spent her childhood years in North Carolina. She excelled academically, and after graduating from Duke University in 1962 she moved to Washington, D.C. to work for the Social Security Administration. It was there that she met Martin Kirchhausen. They married in 1964 at Duke Memorial United Methodist Church and in 1967 moved to the Baltimore suburbs to raise their family.

Barbara  was kind, gentle, smart, funny, and generous. She deeply loved her four children, and her life revolved around supporting their dreams and aspirations and ensuring they had everything they could ever want or need.

She put thousands of miles on the family station wagon driving kids to school and related activities plus countless carpools, lessons, practices, rehearsals, scout meetings, camp, and to and from college. She attended every concert, recital, and nearly every match, meet, tournament, and game. She was a Cub Scout leader, helped with MYF, and was a teacher’s aid at Milford Mill Child Development Center when her children were young. She excelled at making every birthday and holiday special by preparing special meals and lavishing her family with thoughtful gifts. The Kirchhausen family home was a hub of activity for neighborhood kids and friends from school, and Barbara loved (almost) every minute of it.

Barbara enjoyed playing the piano and sang in the church choir, and she passed a lifelong love of music down to her children. She devotedly tended to her parents, William and Virginia Bradshaw, as they aged, and in taking care of their needs demonstrated a standard of compassionate care her children later strove to achieve.

Barbara loved Christmas, the family’s Labrador retrievers (Schatzi, Puppy, and Annie), and Duke basketball. She treasured annual family vacations to Topsail Island where she was grateful to reconnect with family and her North Carolina roots. She was an avid bridge player and a fierce Scrabble competitor. She did not hold back when playing board or card games with her children. She was a voracious reader, and instilled in her children an appreciation for lifelong learning. A favorite family memory is a camping trip she planned exploring museums and historic sites throughout New England.

Barbara was a woman of great faith and service. She loved her work at the Social Security Administration and respected and enjoyed her colleagues. She started as a Claims Representative, and following a brief break to raise her small children, returned to SSA as a programmer. Through hard work and many promotions, she ultimately rose to the rank of Branch Chief.

Hailing from a family filled with Methodist ministers, Barbara was actively involved in the church. At Mt. Olive UMC in Randallstown, she was a member of the United Methodist Women, sang in the church choir, chaired the finance committee, was deeply committed to the Loaves and Fishes food ministry, taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School, and frequently gave rides to church to those with transportation challenges. For many years she chaired the UMW’s annual Christmas Tea fundraiser, and her highly coveted pecan pies were always big sellers at the annual Flea Market.

She was true (Duke) blue and she is already very much missed.

A funeral service will be held Saturday, October 19, 2024 at 11am at Mt. Olive United Methodist Church, 5115 Old Court Road, Randallstown, MD 21133.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Barbara’s memory can be made to the Loaves and Fishes ministry at Mt. Olive United Methodist Church in Randallstown, MD or to the charity of your choice.