Barbara was born in Hokendauqua, PA and was the daughter of the late John and Hannah (Hoffman) Theiss. She was a proud U.S. Navy Nurse Corp veteran, entering the service in 1949 and honorably discharged in 1952 as a LTJG. She was a member of Union Evangelical Lutheran Church in Schnecksville, PA. Barbara enjoyed politics, maintaining her beautiful home and yard, travel to faraway places like China and local places like the Atlantic City casinos. Barbara will be most remembered for her generosity and devotion to her family.

Survivors: She will be dearly missed by her children, COL Wendy Bernstein, MD USA, (RET) and her spouse, LTC Susan Spaulding USA (RET) of Derwood, MD; her son, William Bernstein and his partner, Margaret Teta of Windsor, CT, and Martha McKerley and her husband James of Coventry, CT; her two granddaughters, Rosemary and Jayda McKerley; nephew, Scott Oberholtzer and his wife Pat; niece, Sandra Hippert and husband Lee. She was predeceased by her sister, Althea Oberholtzer and her husband Kenneth.

Services: Funeral services and burial with military honors will be held at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia. For updated information, please visit www.newkirkandwhitney.com. Arrangements and services are under the care of the Newkirk and Whitney Funeral Home, 318 Burnside Ave., East Hartford, CT.

Contributions: In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: Puppies Behind Bars, 263 West 38th Street, 4th floor, NY, NY 10018, or DAV Charitable Service Trust, 3725 Alexandria Pike, Cold Spring, KY 41076, or Fisher House Foundation, 111 Rockville Pike, Suite 420, Rockville, MD 20850.