Bertha Pendleton Krise

Bertha May Pendleton Krise was greeted by her welcoming family in heaven on October 27, 2025. She was born, one of eleven children, to Harry Pendleton Sr. and Victoria Whitlock Pendleton on March 11, 1933, in Orange, Virginia.

Bertha was a lifelong member of Orange Baptist Church, where she served in the nursery for many years and was a member of the Kay Culpeper Circle of the WMU. She would say, as a child, her family would go to church Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday night, all of them piled in the back of her father’s truck. As long as she was physically able, she attended services every Sunday, sitting with her dear friend, Emma Clarke.
Bertha worked at VMP in Orange, where she met her future husband, Bob Krise. They were married on July 13, 1953, and had three children, Thomas, Victoria, and Joy. After all her children were in school, Bertha went to work for Dr. Leon Marks, where she stayed for 25 years.

Her passions were cooking and family. She was always planning a family dinner or get together and fixed wonderful meals. At birthday dinners, the honoree chose their favorite dessert and Bertha would make anything from scrumptious apple pie to a luscious lemon cake. Her banana bread won a blue ribbon at the Orange County Fair. Grands always knew where to go for treats.

Bertha and Bob loved to travel and went from VA to CA and back again, stopping in AL to visit her sister, then coming up the coast back to VA. They also loved to square dance. Bertha was an excellent seamstress and made all her square dance dresses, and would coordinate her husband’s shirts with a piece of the same material. They traveled all over with their caller and their group from Orange.

After her retirement, Bertha and Bob moved to his family compound in PA. They both volunteered at the VA hospital in Altoona and enjoyed their time living closer to the Krise brothers and sisters. When Bob needed to be closer to his doctors in VA, they moved back to Orange, building an apartment beside their daughter Joy.

After Bob’s passing, Bertha’s health started to decline. Needing skilled care, she entered Dogwood Health and Rehab, where she received excellent care until her death.

Bertha is preceded in death by her husband, Bob, a son Tommy; sisters, Lula Hicks, Belle Riordan, Hazel Roberts, and Ann Gilliland; brothers, Harry Jr, Lewis, Barclay, Thomas, and Walter Pendleton.

She is survived by daughters, Victoria Schafer (Donald) and Joy Ryder (Sonny); grandchildren, Jeremy Barnes (Terry), Chris Barnes (Amber), Samantha Ryder (Johnny), Adam Ryder (Jacqueline) and Cole Ryder (Stasha); 15 great grandchildren; one great, great grandchild; brother, James (Grant) Pendleton (Doris), numerous nieces and nephews, her many Krise relatives, and her dear friend and partner in crime, Emma Clarke.

The family would like to thank the nurses, doctors, CNAs, and all the personnel at Dogwood Health and Rehab for the loving care Bertha received during her stay.

Memorial donations may be made to Orange Baptist Church, P.O. Box 167, Orange, VA 22960.

Services will be held at Orange Baptist Church, Friday, October 31. Viewing is at 10:00 with the service at 11:00, reception to follow. Alan Miller and Rick Clore will be officiating. Interment will be at Graham Cemetery.

Preddy Funeral Home - Orange Chapel is assisting the family with arrangements.