Alfred “Al” J. Bahr, 77, of Dumfries, Va, passed away peacefully at his home on July 29, 2016. A loving husband, father, and grandfather, Al will be remembered fondly for his many years of service to his country, community, and the Catholic Church.
The son of the late Alfred and Margaret Ann (Haggerty) Bahr, Al was born Nov. 8, 1938. He grew up in Arlington, Va., and attended St. Thomas More Elementary School and St. John’s College High School in Washington, D.C.
Al served in the U.S. Army from Dec. 15, 1958 to March 3, 1962 with Battery B, 1st Missile Battalion at a Nike Hercules site in Porter, Indiana. He was extended two months and 22 days for the Cuban Missile Crisis.
After discharge, Al worked as a bill collector for GAC Finance in Mt. Rainier, Washington, D.C., as well as Craft Finance and the Credit Bureau. He earned his bachelor’s in business from George Mason University and, later, he worked for the Post Office and the General Services Administration, before finishing his career as the chief of the Property and Supply Branch with the Department of Education Administration Management Services.
Following his retirement from the government in 1995, Al earned his real estate license and spent almost ten years renting and selling homes in the Northern Virginia area. He also worked briefly as a school security guard and a substitute teacher, and in 2001, Al completed the ten-week Citizen Police Academy in Prince William County.
A charter member of the John Paul I Knights of Columbus Council, Al was a Past Grand Knight (’82-’83) and was awarded State Knight of the Year (’85-’86). He was a two-time member of the Knights of Columbus Usher Program at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., and was involved with many activities with the Knights, including working bingo on Monday nights and bowling in the Dick Evans Memorial League every Friday night for 32 years.
In addition to his involvement with the Knights, Al was a longtime parishioner of both Holy Family Church in Dale City (1973-1990) and Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Manassas (1990-2016). He was a member of the American Legion, as well as a dedicated blood and platelet donor.
In his spare time, Al enjoyed bowling, hiking, reading, working in the yard, playing cards, and spending time with his friends and family. He loved to learn and was passionate about politics, sports, and history, among other topics.
Al is survived by his wife of 45 years, Virginia “Ginny” (Spence). He also leaves behind sons James (with Stephanie) in Ashburn, Va.; Brian (with Cameron) in Midlothian, Va.; Steven in Manassas, Va.; daughter Katherine “Katie” in Washington, D.C.; and grandchildren Mason, Ryder, Jake, Ryan, Ava, Carter, and Lincoln Kate. Al’s brother Richard (with Glenda) resides in Merritt Island, Fl.
Family and friends will be received at Mountcastle Turch Funeral Home, 4143 Dale Blvd., Dale City, Va., on Tuesday, Aug. 9, from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 6 to 8 p.m. A funeral Mass will be offered for Al at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 12975 Purcell Rd., Manassas, Va., on Wednesday, Aug. 10, at 11 a.m. Internment will follow immediately at Quantico National Cemetery, 18424 Joplin Rd., Triangle, Va.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Al’s name to the John Paul I Knights of Columbus Council in Dale City or Capital Caring Hospice.
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