Claire Anne Bloomberg Capel, visited
every continent except Antarctica and every state during a lifetime
of travels and adventures. After 56 years of marriage to her beloved
husband, Stephen, her life as his travel companion and the love of
his life drew to a close as she embarked on a new travel destination
to Heaven on August 16, 2022. She was born February 11, 1943, in
Newark, N.J., to Henry and Lissette Bloomberg. She leaves behind her
younger sister, Phyllis (Angelo) Sperlongo of Margate, Fla.; and two
wonderful daughters, Lisa (Dennis) Jones, Anthem, Arizona and Laura
(Kevin) Jones, Plano, Texas; as well as grandchildren, Reid (25),
Ashley (24) and Camryn (23). She graduated from Red Bank High School
(N.J.) and the University of Missouri School of Journalism. Claire
began her career as a reporter and wire editor for the McPherson
(Kansas) Sentinel in 1966 and later was the City Editor of the Newton
Kansan, where she saw AP wire copy transition to direct paste-up via
Mac computers in the early 1980s. In 1989, they relocated to
Powhatan, Va., where Claire then began working at the Virginia State
Police as a Public Information Officer. Claire continued this work
until she retired in 2005.
She was a longtime member of Christ the
King Lutheran Church in Richmond. There, she was a member of the
choir and dedicated significant time to service opportunities
including Habitat for Humanity trips to El Salvador. She was also a
member of Beta Sigma Phi for nearly 50 years.
Claire caught Steve?s curiosity to
always wonder what was over the next rise or down that side road. At
first, they just slept under the stars with their dog, Soc, and spent
Lisa?s first birthday camped out in Rocky Mountain N.P. From there,
they transitioned to backpacking Glacier and Yellowstone when Laura
was just four and Lisa, five. Eventually, they were able to travel to
all 50 states! After their daughters were in college, they expanded
their travel to other continents and visited 60 countries!
A funeral service was held at 4 p.m. on
August 19, at Christ the King Lutheran Church, 9800 W Huguenot Rd.,
Richmond, Va. 23235.
1943 - 2022 (79 years)