Edgar Jay Bjarnason

edgar bjarnason
Edgar “Ed” Jay Bjarnason, the youngest of 5 children, was born on December 18, 1959, at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba Naval Base, to the late U.S. Navy Captain Paul H. Bjarnason and Dorothy L. Ellerbusch Bjarnason. Captain Bjarnason left Cuba in 1960 and settled with his family in Falls Church, VA.

Diagnosed with Type I Diabetes when he was 10 years old, Ed and his mother became actively involved with the Juvenile Diabetes Association and its charitable activities. Together they participated in many fundraisers that included swimming, walking, and biking.

Ed attended JEB Stuart High School in Falls Church, VA. He enjoyed off roading with his Ford Bronco and Toyota Land Cruiser and proudly performed much of the vehicles’ maintenance himself. After his graduation from high school in 1979, Ed started a successful grounds-keeping business which thrived for many years. He later enrolled in Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA, graduating in 1987 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Secondary Education. During his college years he became a member of the Sigma-Iota Zeta chapter of the Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity.

After graduation Ed returned to Northern Virginia and began his career as an insurance claims adjuster for GEICO.

Ed married Theresa Larkin in 1989 and in 1993 they had a son Michael. His love for Michael was unparalleled and they shared many happy memories together. Ed and Theresa later divorced.

Although Ed remained in the insurance industry, for a short period of time, he changed his career focus to sales and began working with Nationwide Insurance. While he was studying to take the Virginia State insurance licensing class, he met Linda Christ, the class instructor. Years later in 2009 they bumped into each other again and began a relationship that bloomed into the love of two soulmates. Their love and life together continued for the next fourteen years.

They were grateful to share a fulfilling and loving relationship; a cherished union filled with joy. Both of them loved traveling and visited Africa, China, Italy, Costa Rica, and took a cruise to Alaska. One of Ed’s passions was photography, and he captured their adventures with many amazing photos. Ed also became immersed in the art of woodworking and developed an extensive workshop where over the years he created many amazing pieces including a guitar, an exotic wood table, a toy box, a rocking horse, a bear rocking chair, and a Windsor chair, to name just a few.

Ed had several other hobbies which included listening to music, spending time with family and a continuing devotion to charitable events. In 2022 he completed the American Diabetes Association’s Tour de Cure biking event.

Known as “the Saint” to Linda’s family, Ed was a friend to all. He gave generously of his time and talents, and offered unconditional support and encouragement to his siblings, nieces and nephews, and his many friends. A caring and compassionate man, Ed was always willing to lend a helping hand. His kindness, smiling face, and sunny outlook will be missed by all whose lives he touched.

Ed’s memory will be forever cherished by the love of his life Linda Christ; his son Michael, his siblings: brother Paul H. Bjarnason, Jr. and spouse Margaret of Annandale, VA.; sister, Carla A. Shreffler of Havre de Grace, MD.; brother Dr. Gary F. Bjarnason and spouse Dale of Roanoke Rapids, NC; 10 nieces and nephews; and his extended family: daughter Kim Rae Valentine and spouse Jonathan J. Cecce; grandson Ryan M. Valentine, and spouse Chelsea, parents of great-granddaughter Roslyn Rae; and granddaughter Rebecca C. Valentine. Ed will also be sadly missed by his two canine children, Little Man and Bruno.

Ed was preceded in death by his parents Paul H. Bjarnason and Dorothy L. Ellerbusch Bjarnason; brother John Bjarnason and niece Jacqueline Shreffler.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ed’s name to his favorite charities: The American Diabetes Association and the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.



You are able to watch the Memorial Service via live stream, it is being provided by the Hoy Comforter Church

See the events secition for the link

View current weather.

Memories Timeline

Guestbook

  1. The Owners and Staff at the Money and King Funeral Home, wish to express our sincere sympathy to you. It is our hope that we may be able to make a difficult time more bearable. Please feel free to call us anytime as we are always available to you.

    Bob Gallagher
    Funeral Director

  2. Ed defined what being a friend meant. I am deeply saddened to lose him. A shining star in my life is extinguished. I will dedicate my professional presentation to him as it keeps me from attending the memorial. Rest in peace and may the eternal light of love shine upon you my dear friend.
    -Michael O’Hanlan

  3. It is so hard to imagine the world without Ed’s smile, kindness, and love of life! Sending condolences to LInda and to his family. May his name be for a blessing.

  4. Ed was a constant source of inspiration, he was constantly cheering me on while i had covid this past November early December and even commissioned a couple of pieces from me to help me out, knowing that I am self employed and couldnt work for 2 weeks. He was such a sweet heart and i kniw he loved his wife and his pugs so very much! The pieces he commissioned were for her. He would send me pug memes all the time as he knew how much i love dogs. I still have a whole email of photos that he took of his african safari, now i know i will have to use one of them and make a pyro piece. He never had a bad thing to say and was so generous in his kind words. Ill miss him even though i never met him in person! My prayers go out to his family. He will be missed.

  5. Ed was such a wonderful man. I am blessed to have known him. I am so very sorry, Linda. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

  6. Ed was a wonderful man. We first met him as a family when he generously took us for a cruise of Lake Barcroft on his pontoon boat.
    He generously helped me with the carpentry for a model railroad I built.
    God rest his soul.

  7. Ed was a sweet soul. He was a great father to his son and a very good friend to my family.
    He will surely be missed.
    Peace to him, his family and loved ones.

  8. Ed and I go way back to his GEICO days, before his first marriage. What a gentleman! He was always kind and thoughtful. I was so happy to hear about Linda as Ed deserved that happiness!

  9. Ed & I were never Blessed to meet in person. He contacted me a long while ago after seeing lots of my scrollsaw creations. He asked me if I’d be ok kinda guiding and mentoring him and I was happy to say yes. We had hundreds and hundreds of texts , so many phone calls I lost count. I gave him all of my tips and tricks and I advised him in everything he needed to buy from blades, wood, stain , all of it. I even had him send me photos he wanted to cut and I had one of my designers make the patterns for him.
    Ed was truly one if the funniest , most loving and caring people that I was Blessed to call my friend.
    I cried last night when I saw that you went to Heaven Ed. I’m gonna miss you and our long long calls and texts night and day. My heart hurts not only for myself and for losing you but for your entire family and all that loved you. You impressed me so so much with the two boat cuts thatbibguided you with. Fly high my friend. Thanks for all the jokes and laughs and for all of the praise that you always gave me that I didn’t feel I deserved. I love you Ed . See you one day . ❤️??????

  10. Reflections of OUR Ed
    Gentle Giant and would do nothing to hurt anyone
    Strong- when he gave you a hug, it was a strong bear hug
    Kind- he would do anything for someone. He stopped to try to help a homeless man who was pushing a junk motorcycle, Ed gave him his water thermos and snacks and jump started his bike. He gave him all the cash in his wallet.
    Nice – to everyone-loved ones and strangers alike
    Altruistic- selfless concern for the well-being of others.
    Tender-hearted to all he met especially furry four-legged companions.
    Calming – he had such a way of calming me down and would often say, let’s deal with this together.
    I was a better person with him.
    Handsome- I could look at him and melt. That big toothy grin.
    Loving – I knew he loved me- he said it multiple times a day and showed multiple times of the day. He sent me two texts expressing it just before he died.
    Adored by his great granddaughter and they would tease and laugh and she would often say ‘Oh Granddad”. They would draw together, color together, and dance in tutus together.
    My family always called him “the Saint” After a long time of this, I said why do the keep calling you a saint, His response was “cause I told them to”.
    The world was full of his friends – he just may not have met them yet.
    He left the world a better place for having lived in it!

  11. What was Ed grateful for:
    For his woodworking shop!
    For our home
    For his son Michael
    For Paul, Gary and Carla
    For the nieces and nephews he loved to spend time with.
    For his pugs – Little Man and Bruno
    For the Doggy Play Date Group.
    All his Facebook friends and groups for Pugs, woodworking and diabetes.
    For White Chocolate and Chocolate Cake
    For Roslyn when she would say to him “I love you the most”
    He was truly a Marvelous Man

  12. Ed was a great man and well liked by everyone. I felt incredible sadness with the news of his passing. He was one of the good ones. With a heart of gold, he always had a kind word and was willing to help people. He left us far too soon. Ed will be missed enormously.

  13. (Adapted from Walk Humbly)

    There are two kinds of things in the universe: those that abide forever; and those that don’t. The things that abide forever we’ll call essence; the things that last for a shorter time we’ll call existence.
    We human beings are in the second category. We exist: we think that because we exist we’re the heart of all things. But we forget that existence isn’t all there is. We’re missing something important; something vital. Existence is subject to change and decay – and death. Essence isn’t. Yes, we do indeed exist. But we’re not permanent. Take us away and there still is something essential. Our being depends on the existence of others. We crave independence, but it’s an illusion: we never could be independent; and there would be no joy in being so

    Ed is now essence – all around us and watching over us and loving us.

  14. His sense of humor, his ability to laugh at himself and the world. I will always hold treasured thoughts of our time together

  15. My memory of Ed was always of how he entered a room & filled it with his expansive smile and happiness.
    Also of Little Man sitting on his chest

  16. Ed was such a great Guy. Always a kind word and so funny. I’m fortunate to have been friends with him.

  17. Ed made a very special cross for a women’s retreat. He was very talented in woodworking and other things. He made several beautiful pens he gave to my husband. Later on my husband bought more because he loved them.

  18. I will always remember Ed Being so kind and funny! He was always telling (corny) jokes but he was so quick to smile and joke

  19. Ed was a great friend. Always joking and smiling. We shared love for woodworking together. I enjoyed your showing me how to make a pen from scratch and gave it as a wedding gift to my wife. You made the rest for my groomsmen. Thanks for being you. Till we meet again.


Sign the Guestbook, Light a Candle

Accessibility Tools
hide