Cathryn Bradshaw Langstaff

Our beloved mother, Cathryn Lorraine Bradshaw Langstaff, aged 94, passed away peacefully of natural causes at her home in Alexandria, Virginia surrounded by family on October 18, 2023. Cathryn was married to Morton Langstaff of Paducah, Kentucky in 1952. They shared 57 wonderful years together before Morton passed in 2009. Cathryn and Morton Langstaff shared a deep love of music and Cathryn would often dance across the kitchen floor or join Morton at the piano to sing. They raised three children in Alexandria, where Cathryn retired as a civil servant from the Defense Logistics Agency in Cameron Station. Cathryn was a wonderful hostess and greatly enjoyed gathering people for parties and informal occasions, including the well-loved New Year's Eve jazz parties at the Langstaff family home in Rosemont. Friends from Alexandria remember snow days at the Masonic Temple when Mom made hot chocolate, chili and cornbread while drying their winter clothes. When you opened the door to her home, Cathryn greeted you with a hug and her beautiful smile.

Cathryn Lorraine Bradshaw was born in Galena, Kansas on July 9, 1929 to parents Mildred Irene Drake and August Clarence Bradshaw. She graduated from Galena High School in 1947 and attended Joplin Business College in Joplin, Missouri. She traveled to Washington, D.C. in 1948 and remained in the Washington, D.C. area until her death. Cathryn is survived by her sister, Billie DeGraff (Galena, KS); her children daughter Molly Langstaff (Alexandria, VA), son Bradshaw and daughter-in-law Kerry Langstaff (Royal Oaks, CA), daughter Kathryn Langstaff and son-in-law Dr. Stuart Cowan (Berkeley,California); and her two cherished granddaughters Kelly Langstaff and Sophia Cowan and great-grandson Jud Somerville, all residing in California. She was preceded in death by her granddaughter Kaitlyn Langstaff.

Cathryn's smile lit up any room. She was a warm and genuine person who had a deep faith and believed in the power of prayer. She devoted herself to her church community of Trinity Episcopal Church in Arlington, Virginia. Throughout her life, Cathryn remained active with travel, playing bridge, and visiting family and friends. Cathryn's life was marked by love, family, and unwavering faith. She will be dearly missed and remembered fondly by her family and by her many friends. A celebration of her life will be held January 6, 2024, at 2 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church, 2217 Columbia Pike, Arlington, VA (Phone: 703-920-7077).

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts in support of Molly Langstaff are greatly appreciated. Go online to Trinity's website at https://www.trinitychurcharlington.org/online-giving. In the field marked "other", write in "Molly Langstaff Support." You may also opt to mail a check, made payable to Trinity Episcopal Church, as follows: Trinity Episcopal Church, 2217 Columbia Pike, Arlington, VA 22204 (Earmark Check: Molly Langstaff Support).