Carmen Navarro Brinkley

Carmen Brinkley, 82, of Hardyville, Virginia passed away on Wednesday, January 10, 2024.

Carmen was born in Paia, Hawaii on September 25, 1941. She was the daughter of Pedro Navarro and Rufina Noble.

Carmen attended Holy Rosary in Paia and graduated from Maui High School in 1959. After completing high school, she moved to San Francisco and worked for the telephone company. While living in San Francisco, Carmen met her future husband, Joe Brinkley, and they married in 1962. Carmen and Joe had two sons, Joe Jr. and David, and would have celebrated their 62^nd wedding anniversary in February 2024.

In 1967, Carmen moved with Joe and her sons to the Richmond, Virginia area where she worked for Reynolds Community College and, later, the Virginia Educational Loan Authority. Carmen and Joe spent almost thirty years at their home in Varina, Virginia. In 2001, Carmen moved with Joe to their retirement dream home overlooking the Rappahannock River in Hardyville, Virginia.

Carmen enjoyed sewing, quilting, crafting, gardening, and was an incredible gourmet cook. Her sewing, quilting, and craft projects adorned her Hardyville home and her green thumb was evident in her beautiful yard and plant collection. She was a loving and cherished wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend.

She is survived by her husband Joe Brinkley; son Joe Brinkley, Jr. and daughter-in-law Rita Graf; granddaughter Ashley Brinkley; sisters Filey Navarro and Lillian Spragan; sister-in-law Pat Navarro; many beloved nieces and nephews; and her adored dog, Lola .

Carmen was preceded in death by her son David Brinkley; sisters Rosita Cabotaje, Loreta Baza, and Juanita Soto; brothers Albert Navarro and Rodney Navarro; sisters-in-law Lorraine Navarro, Ginger Castle, and Patsy Brinkley; and brothers-in-law Simeon Cabotaje, Peter Baza, Tom Brinkley, and Jim Brinkley.

 A funeral service will be held at Church of the Visitation in Topping, Virginia at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 27 followed by a celebration of Carmen’s life at noon in the church’s assembly room.

Faulkner Funeral Homes, Bristow-Faulkner Chapel, Saluda, Va, is assisting the family.