Norma Culver Bradbury's Obituary
A force of nature, but not at first! Norma Lucille Culver was the second child born in 1935 to Choice and Hester Culver. As a toddler, she would happily follow her adventurous sister Velma anywhere, but that all changed when Velma started school. Norma wouldn’t budge off the porch! Growing up in District Heights and then in Forestville with two more younger sisters, Marian and Sandy, and a close extended family, Norma came into her own. She was a performer, a trait that began in high school and stayed with her all her life! And when she met Edsel, she knew what she wanted. This quiet boy was the perfect mate for his happy, exuberant girl!
A Partnership of 70 Years
From their little house in North Forestville, Edsel and Norma began a 70-year marriage that brought joy, not just to them, but to their family and friends. In those days, Edsel had various jobs – Coca-Cola deliveryman, US Park Police officer – before his career as a lineman/installer for AT&T. Norma ended her short career at Andrews Air Force Base in 1957 when their first child, Sharon Lynn, was born. Casper Edsel Jr. was born two years later, and in 1965, after the family moved to Waldorf, baby number 3, Choice Culver, was born. Their family was complete!
But Edsel always had the itch to be a farmer, and his ambition was fulfilled in 1975 when the family moved to a small farm on Dixie Lyon Road in Mechanicsville. Bluegrass, cows, and a garden, and the friends and acquaintances that came with them, filled Edsel’s days and nights. Relocation did not inhibit Norma or limit her activities. She drove her school bus; she bowled. She was always ready to help with farm chores as a kid, so the role of farmer’s wife suited her just fine. Norma was never without a crochet project, which she would carry with her almost anywhere; she faithfully served Calvary Church in many capacities and was Edsel’s chief bluegrass groupie.
But above all, really above all, their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren were the delight of their lives. All one has to do is read Norma’s Christmas newsletters to feel the happiness she and Edsel experienced through their children and the families they are blessed with. And it was love returned in equal measure.
So much joy, a little heartache, and tremendous gratitude for the wonderful life God granted these two precious souls that will be so sorely missed.
Norma is survived by a host of loving family and friends: Her children Sharon Foster [Mike], Casper Jr [Kim], and Choice [Susie]; grandchildren Beth Williams [Matt], Kellie Baur [Bobby], Casper Bradbury III (Trey), Culver Bradbury, Tera Faulkner [Jode], Carson Bradbury, Lexi Bradbury and five great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband Edsel and is also survived by her loving sisters Velma Sanford, Marian Jenkins [Lew], and Sandy McGraw.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude's Children's Hospital https://www.stjude.org/give.html or Children's National https://giving.childrensnational.org/site/Donation.
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