Karen Howe Steinhardt Kirkbride & Richard James Kirkbride

Family and friends are invited to gather to remember and celebrate their lives at a memorial event to be held on Saturday, August 22nd, at 2 p.m. at the Demaine Funeral Home, 5308 Backlick Road, Springfield, Virginia 22151. The gathering will include a one-hour program beginning at 3 p.m., with the room closing at 5 p.m.

They are survived by their three sons: Steven; Kevin and his wife, Britt Vice; and Trevor and his wife, Sara, parents of their grandchildren Penelope and Silas.

Karen was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, on December 13, 1934, to the late Dr. Jacinto Steinhardt and the late Hazel Steinhardt of Chevy Chase, Maryland, and later Berkeley, California. Karen graduated from National Cathedral School and Sweet Briar College with a degree in Mathematics. She received her master's in Philosophy from Georgetown University. Karen served as secretary to the Sweet Briar Class of 1952 through her 50th class reunion. Karen retired from a distinguished Department of Defense (DoD) civilian career, serving as Director of Data Administration for the U.S. Army Personnel Information Systems Command (PERSINSCOM). Starting in 1983, she traveled internationally representing the United States at the American National Standards Institute (ANSI, founded 1918), where she served as Chair of several committees. She also authored works appearing in more than 20 publications in the fields of Information Resources Management (IRM) and Automated Data Processing (ADP) policies on behalf of the DoD and the U.S. Army. Not ready to sit still following her retirement from the Pentagon, she became a real estate agent for several years.

Richard was born in Decorah, Iowa, on October 5, 1936, to the late Jim Kirkbride and the late Catherine Loretta Howes of Caldwell, Idaho. Richard graduated from St. Mary's Central High School and Georgetown University School of Foreign Service. He received the first of his two master's degrees in Political Science from the University of Hawaii, and the second from Georgetown University. Following his undergraduate studies, Richard joined the U.S. Navy, stationed in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, assigned to Fleet Intelligence Center Pacific. He later transitioned to the U.S. Naval Air Intelligence Reserve Unit at Joint Base Andrews upon his return to the Washington, D.C., area. Richard retired from the U.S. Navy Reserve with the rank of Commander after 27 years of service. Richard retired from a noteworthy Department of Defense civilian career as a Computer Specialist and Project Officer with the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA). Richard contributed to several publications and manuals, including the General Unified Ammunition Reporting Data System.

During their sixty years of marriage, Karen and Richard were devoted to their family and community. They raised their children as members of Queen of Apostles Catholic Church near Annandale, Virginia. Karen volunteered as Den Mother for the Cub Scouts during Steven's and Kevin's childhood. Richard actively participated in many years of athletics and Boy Scouts with all three boys including periods of coaching, training and he was Den Master with Trevor’s Eagle Scout Troop. They regularly attended the boys sporting events and were especially proud to be present at the many military award ceremonies for Steven’s active and reservist U.S. Army and National Guard career. Richard participated in the Winfield Neighborhood Association as Block Representative and was very proud of his years with the neighborhood watch. Karen and Richard honeymooned in Hawaii, returning for their 10th anniversary and more frequently during retirement. They traveled across broad areas of the United States, visiting family members and historic monuments, and pursuing other adventures. They also enjoyed decades renovating and decorating their vacation homes in Milton, Delaware, near Rehoboth Beach.

The family wishes to thank all the outstanding staff and caregivers at Home Instead, Arden Court, and Aarondale Assisted Living for their compassionate care of Karen and Richard. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be made to the American Parkinson's Disease Association, Virginia Chapter, at P.O. Box 4162, Virginia Beach, Virginia 23451. Phone: 757-495-3062.