Bradley Neal Burkhart

Bradley Neal Burkhart, 49, of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, died peacefully at his home on December 19, 2004, after a four month struggle with lung cancer. He is survived by his wife of ten years, Marina B. Gresham, a native of Richmond, Virginia. Born on October 10, 1955, in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, Brad was the son of Raymond E. Burkhart, now deceased, and Fae A. Burkhart of Malvern, Pennsylvania. Brad graduated from Great Valley High School in 1973 and from Syracuse University in 1977. An artist and painter, Brad also owned and operated a finish carpentry and renovation business. Brad was a member and volunteer at The Phoenix Village Art Center and The Phoenixville Association for the Colonial Theater. Brad enjoyed travel with his wife to Woods Hole, Massachusetts, to Paris, Copenhagen and the Gaspee Peninsula and to their cottage in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. He enjoyed photography, drawing, composing music on the computer, and family pets. Brad enjoyed music and folk-dancing with Marina, his wife. A zydeco band played at the reception following their wedding which took place at The Meeting House, Green Valley Association, at Birchrunville, Pennsylvania, on August 20, 1974. In addition to his wife, Marina, and his mother, Fae A. Burkhart, Brad is survived by his two brothers, Gary M. Burkhart of Seattle, Washington, and Eric R. Burkhart of Malvern, Pennsylvania. Other survivors include his mother-in-law, Marsden Williams of Richmond, Virginia, and his sister-in-law, Cyane W. Gresham and her husband, Alan Bayersdorfer of Worthington, Ohio. A memorial service and celebration of life will take place at 6:30 p.m. Friday evening, January 21, 2005, at the Phoenixville Historical Society Church, 204 Church Street, Phoenixville, Pennsylvania 19460. Afterwards, the family will receive friends at the Phoenix Village Art Center where there will be an exhibit of Brad's paintings. Memorial contributions may be sent to the Phoenixville Mural Arts Project, P.O. Box 712, Phoenixville, Pennsylvania 19460 or to The American Lung Association, 61 Broadway, New York, New York 10006. The address of the local chapter is The America Lung Association, 9221 Forest Hill Avenue, Richmond, Virginia 23235. Also, donations may be made online at www.lungusa.org