Dr. Bickley Burns Brodhead

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Haverford College

Bickley Brodhead Obituary

November 18, 2012

Dr. Bickley Burns Brodhead, 91, of East Second Mountain Road, died at home Sunday.

Born in Bryn Mawr, Jan. 11, 1921, he was a son of the late Charles Daniel and Elizabeth Burns Brodhead.

He was a graduate of Media High School, Haverford College, Temple University and Union Seminary.

As a United Methodist pastor, he served Bensalem UMC, Fritz Memorial UMC, St. Matthew's of Valley Forge UMC and Lansdale UMC. He served as district superintendent to the Anthracite District.

He was a volunteer missioner to the Bahama Islands for 10 years after his retirement. He taught at Moravian College and E. Baptist Seminary.

He was well-known as a trumpet player.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Bernice Buell Brodhead; his brother, C. Daniel Brodhead; and a stepson, J. Andrew Wagner.

He is survived by his wife, Ruth Tyson Wagner Brodhead; his daughters, Lois Freese, wife of David Freese, and Janet Morley, wife of Shaune Morley; and four grandchildren, Robert, Joshua, Zoe and Samantha Freese. He is also survived by stepchildren, Peter Wagner and Anna Wagner Kleckner, wife of Roger Kleckner; and stepgrandchildren, Allison and Emily Wagner and Emma Kleckner. Also surviving are his sister, Betsy Toohey and her children, Richard Toohey, Daniel Toohey and Elizabeth Toohey.

In lieu of flowers, the family prefers donations be made to a charity of your choice. Family and friends are invited to call from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Hamilton Funeral Home Inc, Orwigsburg. Join us for a celebration of his life at Welcome United Methodist Church, Landingville, at 11 a.m. Saturday. Interment services will be held at Hillside Cemetery Memorial Gardens, Roslyn, at the convenience of the family. Hamilton Funeral Home Inc. has been entrusted with arrangements.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Republican & Herald on Nov. 20, 2012.

Memories and Condolences
for Bickley Brodhead

Sponsored by His loving friends and family.

14 Entries

Laurie (Frankenfield) Murphy

June 21, 2013

I know this is late in coming as I have only just found out about Burns' passing. I am so sorry for your great loss. He was a beloved second cousin of my late father (Roy Frankenfield). But they were always close. He called my father when he was ill and played his trumpet over the phone. They both loved music. As a child I remember vacationing at their home in the mountains. My thoughts are with you all.

Joanne Synakowski

November 28, 2012

Dear Janet
My deepest sympathy to you and your family. May the love of family and friends and all the wonderful memories of your dad help you through this difficult time. May he rest in peace.

Joe & Janice Andrews

November 27, 2012

I always remember Burns as a remarkable, kind, & loving family member. His first wife was our blood line, but it didn't matter to any of us - he was just as much our own. I wish we had lived closer to him so we could have seen him more.

November 27, 2012

Burns was my Godfather. My parents could not have chosen a more loving, responsible, godly man than Burns. I met him in 1961 at the age of three. We connected in about ten seconds. We were friends 51 years and I cherish many memories of him. These include: hearing him preach on Sundays, enjoying Easter dinner with him as well as a few birthdays and one Thanksgiving, talking on the phone regularly, sharing the faith over dinner, hiking through Hawk Mountain, walking the trail at the farm, chatting with my parents and me growing up, dining at the William Penn Inn, a few weekends at Tobyhanna, watching movies, listening to him play his trumpet, listening to him laugh, sharing favorite stories, and rejoicing in the gift of his friendship.

Burns was and still is unique, one of a kind. No one person has ever impacted my life so profoundly and beautifully than his. Aside from my parents, I loved him more than anyone else in the whole world, and he knew it.

I have no words to express my deep sense of loss, but I do know that this is heaven's great gain. Burns honored God every day of his life. His reward must truly be magnificent.

At different times, Burns assumed various roles in my life, but mostly he was my friend and mentor.

May he rest in Peace.

Alton Long

November 23, 2012

Move over Gabriel, and make room for someone who can truly praise GOD with a trumpet, as well as from the pulpit!

kim roth

November 21, 2012

Anna and Family,
We were very sad to hear about Burns' passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. With Love...your Reading Empire Family

Pat Freeman

November 20, 2012

Burns touched many lives, including mine. I was blessed to grow up knowing him and learning from him. His positive spirit and encouragement through Christ has stuck with me all my life. My most fond memories are when Burns, Jim Fryer, the late Paul Faust and I sang together in a quartet, traveling to local churchs and spreading the Good News through music, directed by Ben and Jane Fryer. That closing verse from the hymn Farther Along, that we sang together 20 years ago, is so appropriate today.

"Soon we will see our dear, loving Savior. Hear the last trumpet sound through the sky; Then we will meet those gone on before us. Then we shall know and understand why."

Mark Moore

November 20, 2012

My thoughts at the passing of Burns Brodhead - he left us. He left us a great legacy. He left us better women and men for having known him. He left us a model to emulate. He left us to save us a seat at the banquet.

'Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God's dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death' or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”'

Until that day - thank you Burns, for what you left us.

Jim Fryer

November 20, 2012

There is a song that comes to mind:"Father Abraham Had Many Sons"; as it pretains to Burns, I am one of them and perhaps so are you.
Methodist Harry Denman award winner(for Evangelism)
Easy to believe isn't it?

Karen Roeder

November 20, 2012

Dr. Brodhead was the Anthracite Superintendent when I first met him more than 40 years ago. Many years later I spoke to him during a luncheon and he became involved in launching church services at Tower South in Schuylkill Haven. He spoke there several times, bringing his trumpet and playing the hymns.

Dr. Brodhead was truly a man of God and listening to him speak was always
an experience which left you with renewed faith. Receiving Communion from him was very meaningful and comforting.

I have great admiration for Dr. Brodhead. My prayers and thoughts are with his family.

GINNY DIRENZO

November 20, 2012

i offer my sincere sympathy to ruth on the passing of burns.god bless him for doing missionary work and sharing the word of god to others take care ruth .

November 20, 2012

Dear Ruth and Family,
I was so sad to hear about the passing of Burns. What a remarkable individual he was.His gentle nature, uplifting personality and contagious smile. His life and works speak for themselves.
You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Deepest Sympathy,
Fran Mickey

November 20, 2012

I came to know Burns late in both his life and my own- over the past ten years. At the men's Fellowship meetings he offered so much inspiration, especially on those days when making the meeting was not an easy task to do. His beautiful smile and reflective nasture always set my day on the right path. Having Ruth with him on his journeys made them special events. Lately my only contacts had been through "snail-mail" and brief encounters at the doctor's office. Still he made those days special. Thank you, Ruth for sharing him with us.
Sincerely,
George L. Smith
Llewellyn

Jim

November 20, 2012

My thoughts and prayers to the family. Burns was a remarkable man who played a big part in my families walk of faith. I will be forever grateful to him and continue my journey with Him watching from above. His contributions to Bridge Builders Men's fellowship were a joy to see and hear. I thank his family for sharing such an inspirational man with us all. To God be the Glory.

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