Karen June Bradford Stipes

The passing of Karen June Bradford Stipes (b.June 15, 1940) on March 9, 2025 brings to closure a long, loving and impactful Christian life devoted to family, service, and faith. She leaves behind a legacy of compassion, having nurtured a large family of 4 children, 14 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren with her best friend and husband of 63 years, Jay Stipes. From the beginning of her life, Karen exemplified the calling of the Lord in James 2:26 to “put feet to your faith” as demonstrated by her lifelong and tireless pursuit to serve others. Born in Ritchie County, WV, Karen grew up in Morgantown, WV, where she attended high school before earning a Board of Governors scholarship to West Virginia University. At WVU, she graduated summa cum laude with a B.S. in library science and met her husband, Jay. Throughout her life, Karen was deeply committed to mental health advocacy. In their early marriage while Jay was in the doctoral program at North Carolina State University, Karen founded the North Carolina School of Psychiatry Medical Library at Dorothea Dix Hospital and worked with psychiatric resident physicians in training. Following Jay’s graduation, they moved to Delaware where Karen became actively involved in the local mental health association. In 1967, the family moved to Blacksburg, Virginia where Karen became the President of the Montgomery County Mental Health Association. Shortly thereafter she was elected President of the Virginia Mental Health Association, enlisting the support of Governors Robb and Dalton to promote mental health initiatives. Her leadership extended to the national level when she became Vice President of the National Mental Health Association, where she enlisted the sponsorship and worked closely with Elizabeth Warner Taylor and Joe Theisman to bring national awareness to the unique challenges faced by individuals with mental illness. In recognition of her service, Karen was named the Roanoke Times “Woman of the Year” in 1981. She was relentless in her work in promoting mental health and numerous other programs for the needy and suffering. Karen’s professional career and service were deeply intertwined. A beloved librarian at Blacksburg High School, she fostered a love of learning and reading among her students for over a decade. While earning her Master’s Degree in Education at Virginia Tech, Karen developed an art and mental health program for Gilbert Linkous Elementary School. Her thesis, “I’m Thumbody,” was designed to build self-esteem in children from an early age. Thereafter, Karen continued her education in the pursuit of her doctorate at Virginia Tech. When it came to Karen’s service, there was no stone left unturned. Following the Vietnam War, Karen opened their home to a group of Vietnamese boat refugees escaping persecution, supporting them through transition to US citizenship. After she retired, she was an active participant in the missionary work in Central Brazil, serving on an Amazon medical boat through Belmont Christian Church. Karen’s passion for service was a family affair. Whether enlisting the assistance of her children to support mental health initiatives, welcoming refugees into their home, or embarking on missions abroad with her children and grandchildren, she modeled a spirit of love and unabated generosity in all that she did. One of Karen and Jay’s favorite activities was serving as docents for many years at President Hoover’s Rapidan Camp. Karen became an authority of the Hoovers and their personal benevolent and philanthropic work and she educated thousands of hikers who visited the camp. Karen and Jay also enjoyed the time spent together researching tree diseases across the U.S. and Western Europe for many decades of their marriage. A lifelong learner, Karen developed a love for family genealogy and persistently researched the histories of the Bradfords, Haymonds, and allied clans compiling valuable information to be shared with generations to come. Her ancestral grandfather, William Haymond, wrote the Constitution for the newly formed state of West Virginia in 1863. Karen was predeceased by her parents, Jennings C. and Elinor Haymond Bradford, as well as her brothers, Carl and Larry and her sister, Janeen. She is survived by her husband, Roland Jay, and their four children: Bradford Jay (Michele), Shannon Dixon (Steve), Leah Hughes (Don), Craig Andrew (Ashley) and brother Randy Bradford and sisters-in-law Judy Bradford and Rita Bradford and many beloved nieces and nephews. She was also the beloved “Nanny” to 14 grandchildren: Caitlyn Dixon, Macie Wall (JC), Conner Altman (Drew), Benjamin Stipes (Stephanie), Ethan Hughes, Sam Hughes, Mollie Hughes, Ahri Hughes, Caleb Stipes, Drew Stipes, Harper Stipes, Trevor Cregger, Austin Cregger and Emma Stipes, as well as two great-grandchildren, Sofia Altman and James Jay Stipes. Additionally, she is also survived by five “adopted” sons, Ben Poe, Dan Kelly, Brandon Craig, Adam Hileman and Quintin Burch. Though Karen’s faith has now become sight, the love and devotion she poured into her family and community continues to shine through the many lives she touched, and she leaves behind a lasting spirit of generosity and love that her family will forever cherish. In lieu of flowers, it was Karen’s wish that donations be made to Blue Ridge Christian Camp, 1751 Sterling Drive, Blacksburg, VA 24060. Funeral Services will be conducted Friday, March 14, 2025, at 1:00 pm in the Belmont Christian Church, 1500 Peppers Ferry Rd. NW, Christiansburg, Virginia 24073. A private family burial will follow the service. The family will receive friends on Friday, March 14, 2025, at Belmont Christian Church from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm.