Catherine Bradford Reed Surridge (Robin)'s Obituary
Catherine Bradford Reed, known lovingly as Robin, went to heaven on February 10, 2026, at nearly 90 years of age. Robin was born on March 25th 1936 in Michigan to Catherine Bradford (Robinson) Reed and Clyde Laverne Reed. On the day she was born, a nest of robin’s eggs hatched outside her nursery window. Her father began calling her his “little robin” and the name remained with her for life.
A lifelong learner with an inquisitive and discerning mind, Robin pursued her love of education by earning a degree in Education from Eastern Michigan University, followed by a Master of Divinity from Western Theological Seminary in Michigan. Her intellectual curiosity shaped her life; she loved theological, political and thoughtful conversations. Adventurous at heart, Robin even obtained a pilot’s license for yachting - one of her many unique accomplishments. She was a published author, contributing to several travel magazines and sharing her love of exploration with others.
Robin was married for 25 years to William Robert Surridge. Together they raised three children: Catherine Bradford Surridge (Kollath), Scott William Surridge, and Robert Reed Surridge. During those years, Robin was an avid gardner, devoted teacher and a creative home maker. Her motto was “There is always room for one more.” She fed the neighborhood as the house became a hub of activity for the children and their friends.
In her second career, Robin answered a call to ministry, serving as one of the first ordained women in the Reformed Church of America and the United Church of Christ. Her ministry took her from Albany, New York, to Seattle, Washington, and many communities in between. She approached her work with courage, compassion, and conviction, breaking barriers for women in ministry and advocating passionately for social justice. During these years, she shared her life with her beloved partner, Ronald Hosking, who was warmly known and loved as “Grandpa Ron.”
Robin is survived by her children: Catherine Kollath; Scott and Andrea Surridge; and Bob and Angie Surridge; as well as seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
She will be remembered for her adventurous spirit, her sharp mind, her unwavering faith, and her deep and abiding love for her family. Her legacy lives on in the lives she nurtured, the barriers she helped dismantle, and the many hearts she welcomed with grace.
Robin’s ashes will be laid to rest beside her cherished Grandpa Ron in Prince of Peace Cemetery in Green Bay Wisconsin.
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