Lieutenant Colonel Carmen John Bria

Carmen John Bria was born May 6, 1940, in Philadelphia, Pa., to Frank Carmen Bria and Edith Virginia Schommer. He was the oldest of five children. The day he died was Dec. 1, 2025, in his home in Buena Vista. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Alex Frank Bria.

Carmen grew up in Philadelphia until about age 9 when his parents moved the family to South San Francisco, Calif. California became his home through high school where he met his future wife, Roxie Woodard. He joined the army at age 18 and married his sweetheart at age 20. He also joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at age 18 and was an active, faithful member all of his life.

After the Army was college at San Jose State College, where he got a degree in penology with a minor in ROTC. He chose an active career in the army for several years as an officer. During that time, he earned his Ranger tab and became airborne, as well.

He decided to leave the active Army and became a part-time soldier in the National Guard. He moved his family to Utah, where he eventually earned a masters degree in sociology and became a social worker in the Utah State Prison. 

When he gave up prison work, because he was still serving as an Officer in the National Guard, he was able to become an instructor for ROTC at Widener University, Villa NovaUniversity and Cheney University.

Moving to Georgia to, the formerly named FortBenning came next. Three years later, he retired from the Army again and moved to Mississippi, where he began a career in juvenile corrections. Three years later, a move to Virginia was made where he continued working in juvenile corrections. He ended that career after 10 years of service at the Boys CorrectionalCenter in Natural Bridge Station, after having worked at several juvenile correctional facilities in Virginia.

In his retirement years, he went to South Korea for 18 months with his wife, Roxie, on a mission for their church. When they returned, he continued counseling people with family and personal problems pro bono. He also helped start Rockbridge Recovery in Buena Vista.

During all these years, he and Roxie raised eight children: Lori Calderone (Joe), Dominic (Suzi), Nicholas (Suzen), Isaac (Daria), Patrick (Katrina), Annalise Hunt (Jason), Cameron (Jamie) and Maria Walker (Joey). At his passing, he had 23 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren. He was 85 years old and lived a very full life. 

A funeral service will be conducted 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1340 Thornhill Road by Bishop Johnathan Clubb. Family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church.

Interment will be at Alpine Cemetery, Alpine, Utah. 

Arrangements are being handled by Bolling, Grose, & Lotts Funeral Home and Cremation Services.