Brad Lee Updegrove
June 30, 1947 ~ August 9, 2023
Brad Updegrove, 76, most recently of Vienna, Virginia/Wilmington, North Carolina, passed away on August 9th, 2023, after a courageous battle with cancer. He was surrounded by loved ones.
Brad was born on June 30, 1947, to Kermit and Mary Updegrove in Levittown, New York. After graduating from Division Avenue High School in 1965. Brad went on to study History at SUNY Oneonta, where he graduated in 1970.
After graduation, Brad entered the United States Navy, where he completed naval air training, becoming a Naval Aviator. He then served as a US Sky Marshall under the FAA. From there he began a 30-year career as a Special Agent in the Foreign Service Division of the US State Department where he retired as Chief of Diplomatic Security.
In 1972, after knowing each other for 8 years as friends, Brad and Donna (Razzano) started dating. They wed in 1976, and together raised 4 children, Kathy, Thomas, Anna, and Eric.
Brad and his family traveled the world during his career. The family lived, during extended tours, in the Philippines, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. In addition to these posts, Brad also traveled to much of Europe, South America, and over a dozen African nations.
Brad was predeceased by his beautiful wife Donna, his parents, and his sister Marilyn. Brad is survived by his children Kathy (Ben) McGee, Thomas Updegrove, Anna (Tony) Ibarra, and Eric (Stevie) Updegrove, and his brother Spike Updegrove. He also has 6 loving grandchildren, Margaret, Sam, Kaia, Hope, Ruby and Ender.
Celebration of Life will be held for Brad on Tuesday, August 15th, from 2:00PM to 4:00 PM at Money & King Funeral Home located in Vienna, Virginia. Family and friends are invited to join the family for food and drinks after the celebration in Oak Hill, Virginia.
Services
Memorial Visitation: August 15, 2023 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Money & King Funeral Home
171 W. Maple Ave.
Vienna, VA 22180
703-938-7440
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2023-08-15 14:00:00
2023-08-15 04:00:00
BradLeeUpdegroveMemorial Visitation
Memorial Visitation
171 W. Maple Ave.,Vienna, VA 22180
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So pleased to have shared a long (but distant friendship – a big ocean got in the way!) with Brad and his beloved wife, Donna. A wonderful couple who will be greatly missed. Thank you for being our friend. Condolences from over the ocean, to his children and grandchildren. Love Jan and Dave Roberts. 🇬🇧
Brad and I shared an office together in New York 1974 until I departed to Moscow 1979. He was a great counselor, instructor with a dry sense of humor that I will always remember.
You have my sincere condolences. All the best to the member of the family.
I came to know Brad several years ago at the fitness center that we both attended in Wilmington. We both enjoyed bantering back and forth with our group of older men while at the gym. We had a lot of good times and I feel very fortunate to have had the privilege to know Brad. He was a great guy and he is sorely missed. My condolences to his family that he spoke of so very often.
We first met Donna and Brad when our children Amber and Rebecca were at Louise Archer Elementary in Vienna. Donna and Brad were just returning from their overseas tour in Pakistan. Brad and Stephen were youth league soccer coaches together and shared many good times. We also attended the Vienna Presbyterian Church and have fond memories of the Dine with 9 groups at VPC.
Donna, Brad, and their family were a special part of our lives for over twenty years of the time we were living in Vienna.
Our condolences to Kathy, Thomas, Anna, Eric, and their families
Stephen, Karen, Amber, and Rebecca Christoffersen
The last time I saw Brad was in Pakistan. I had always admired him but our paths had never crossed until I had a temporary duty assignment in Islamabad while I was assigned to Karachi. Brad insisted that I stay at his residence which was safer and nicer than the local hotels. The warm welcome and hospitality he showed was truly first-class. He made that part of my onerous trip up-country enjoyable. I will always remember his kindness. He was a consummate gentleman and a true diplomat.
Brad and I were Sky Marshals together. I believe that he was in Class 16 and I was in Class 17 at Ft. Belvoir in Virginia. I next ran into him when I was working for Treasury at 26 Federal Plaza. We met in the lobby and he told me that he was working for State which gave me the impetus to move my office up 30 floors to the NYFO thereby starting my State Department career. My older son just retired from DS and my other son has two more years to go. I will always remember Brad.
Rich Rowan
Cortez and I will always be grateful for the generosity and warmth of Brad and Donna upon our arrival to Vienna, Virginia. Brad was a wonderful neighbor and dear friend. We cherish the memories of our times together.
Love and prayers for all the family.
Gregory Gore