Bruce S. Barden

Rev. Bruce Sears Barden, born on March 17, 1936 passed away peacefully on March 10, 2026 at Winter Growth Memory Care, Olney, MD and was a resident of Silver Spring, Maryland. Bruce was born in Syracuse, New York to James Edward Barden and Florence Reed Sears Barden. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Kathleen Bulford Barden of Silver Spring, Maryland, his daughter Kristen Lee Barden (Kevin Kapel) of Washington, DC, his brother Lynn James Barden (Lynne Wessel Barden) of Gaithersburg, MD and many cousins. He is preceded in death by his son Andrew Sears Barden, his cousin Shirley Sears Mills and both of his parents.

He served active duty in the US Army in Germany from 1958 to 59 and then in the reserves for 6 years after. He graduated Magna Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa, from Allegheny College, in 1966 and received a Master of Divinity with First Honors from Yale University in 1969. He was ordained as an Elder into the United Methodist Church in 1969 and served in the following congregations: Lansing, NY from 1969 to 1974, Painted Post NY from 1974 to 1982, Oneida, NY from 1982 to 1990, as the Mohawk District Superintendent from 1990 to 1995 and then retired from Andrews Memorial Church in North Syracuse, NY in 2000. In retirement, he served the following churches: Gethsemane, Cazenovia/Nelson/Erieville, and Little Utica. He was on the board of Syracuse Westside Urban Mission, the Board of Trustees for the North Central NY Conference of the United Methodist Church, the Board of Ordained Ministry and on the Council of Churches in each area where he was appointed. He led many mission work trips to among the following places: Boston, Washington, DC, Redbird Mission in Kentucky, Haiti and others. He directed youth summer camps at Casowasco Summer Camp and Conference Center on Owasco Lake in Moravia, NY for more than 25 years. He had a trained voice and enjoyed singing in many church choirs and occasional solos. As an avid reader of the daily newspaper and a gifted wood worker, his hands were always covered with either newsprint or saw dust. He admired JK Rowling, George Lucas and Karl Bart.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Silver Spring United Methodist Church https://www.silverspringumc.org/, 2900 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910 and Winter Growth Memory https://www.wintergrowthinc.org/, 18110 Prince Philip Drive, Olney, MD 20832.

Services entrusted to Going Home Cremation & Funeral care by Value Choice