Janet Rossman Bradley

October 13, 1943 – May 22, 2026

Janet Rossman Bradley of Virginia Beach passed away peacefully on May 22, 2026, surrounded by her loving family.

Janet was born on October 13, 1943, in Jacksonville, Florida, to the late Earl Clayton Rossman and Christene Ridgell Rossman. Growing up with a passion for learning and adventure, she attended Gulf Park College and the University of Oklahoma.

In 1964, Janet took to the skies, beginning a fulfilling career as a flight attendant for United Airlines. Her early flying career was paused when she married the love of her life, Michael David Bradley, on April 9, 1966, at Treasure Island in San Francisco Bay. As a dedicated military spouse, Janet embraced the nomadic life of a navy family, traveling and creating warm homes across the country, from Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, to Portsmouth, New Hampshire; Monterey, California; Groton, Connecticut; San Diego, California; Bremerton, Washington; and eventually settling in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

As an entrepreneur and travel enthusiast, Janet owned and operated Travel Works in Virginia Beach from 1984 to 1987. In 1987, she returned to her roots at United Airlines, where she dedicated another 16 years of service before retiring in 2003.

Beyond her professional life, Janet was deeply committed to her community. She served as a past board member of the Women of Wesleyan and joined the Little Neck Garden Club in 2001. Over her 25 years with the garden club, she served on numerous committees, held the role of parliamentarian for many years, and served as President from 2015 to 2017.

Her passion for the arts and leadership shone brightly through her involvement with the Norfolk Society of Arts, where she served on the Board of Directors starting in 2008. Over nearly two decades, she championed the organization in various leadership roles, chairing many committees—including the annual benefit luncheon—and was elected President for two terms, serving from 2019 to 2021 and again from 2022 to 2023. Widely regarded as the driving force of the board, Janet was a trusted confidante known for her wisdom, steady guidance, problem-solving abilities, and an unwavering willingness to step forward whenever needed. Her dedication to the local arts community culminated in her appointment to the Board of Trustees of the Chrysler Museum of Art in 2021.

While her community service was extensive, the true highlight of Janet’s life was her family. She was an avid traveler, but her absolute favorite journeys were the special, individual trips she took with each of her grandsons when they turned 16. In her downtime, she especially enjoyed playing Mexican Train Dominoes on Saturdays, a beloved tradition that began during the COVID-19 pandemic with a close-knit group of five fellow former flight attendants.

Janet leaves behind a legacy of love, leadership, and grace. Left to cherish her memory are her devoted husband, Michael; her beloved sister, Gail Shaw; her daughter, Lisa Bunting (Bill); her son, Michael Bradley Jr; and her cherished grandsons, Matthew Bunting (Kendall), Austin Bunting, Michael Bunting (Nicole), Evan Bunting, and Douglas Bradley, alongside a host of extended family and dear friends.

Services & Memorials

● Celebration of Life: A service honoring Janet's life will be held at Eastern Shore Chapel Episcopal Church in Virginia Beach on Friday, July 3rd at 11 am.

● Interment: Burial will take place at Arlington National Cemetery at a future date.

● Memorial Donations: In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made in Janet’s memory to the Norfolk Society of Arts.