Bucks Co. Post Office Renamed In Honor Of Clerk Who Died In Flash Flood

UPPER MAKEFIELD, PA — The post office where Susan C. Barnhart worked as a clerk, greeting customers and sorting mail, now bears her name.

On July 11, U.S. Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick joined members of the U.S. Postal Service and family members to officially dedicate the Washington Crossing Post Office on River Road in Barnhart's memory, two years after the postal clerk and six others were killed when flash flooding swept through part of the township on July 15, 2023.

In addition to Susan, the flooding claimed the lives of Katie Seley, Mattie and Conrad Sheils of Charleston, South Carolina; Linda and Enzo DePiero of Newtown Township; and Yuko Love of Newtown Township.

"Dedicating this post office in Susan's name ensures her legacy remains with us forever - not just in memory, but in a space she loved, and among the people she served so faithfully," said James Dwyer, the postmaster at Washington Crossing.

"To the Barnhart family, while we can never restore the warmth of Susan's smile, we hope that seeing her name honored here offers a measure of comfort. With every person who walks through this lobby, her light will continue to shine - brightly and warmly - just as it always did."

U.S. Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick and Susan Barnhart's sister, Lynda, next to the plaque renaming the Washington Crossing Post Office in memory of former clerk Susan Barnhart.

Susan Barnhart was one of seven victims who lost their lives when flash flooding struck Upper Makefield in 2023. (Photo Courtesy of Sarah Or)

From left: Upper Makefield Police Officer Harry Vitello, Upper Makefield Supervisor Tom Cino and Upper Makefield Fire Chief Tim Brewer who were among those who responded to the flash flooding emergency in the township. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

Edward Williamson, the district manager for U.S.P.S. in Delaware and Pennsylvania, told the gathering that naming a post office isn't easy. In fact, it takes an act of Congress, he said, thanking Congressman Fitzpatrick for making that happen.

According to representatives with the Congressman's office, there are only 118 postal branches dedicated to individuals across the United States, including three in Pennsylvania. This is the first U.S. Postal Service Branch named after a clerk in Pennsylvania

"It’s quite an honor to have a federal building dedicated to Susan. It literally takes an act of Congress and certainly Susan deserved this high honor," said Williamson.

Over the years, Williamson said post office buildings have been dedicated to movie stars, great Americans and top athletes like Bob Hope, Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Walt Disney and Dizzy Dean. "Some of the offices have also recognized the sacrifice of soldiers and law enforcement officers.

"Today we honor someone who isn’t a national celebrity or war hero, but a person whose personal touch resonated with the people she served and her memory encapsulated the phrase service with a smile," said Williamson. "Yet to her family and citizens of Washington Crossing and to we in the postal service she was so much more.

It took this Act of Congress to rename the Washington Crossing Post Office in honor of Susan C. Barnhart. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

The Washington Crossing Post Office has been renamed "The Susan C. Barnhart Post Office." (Jeff Werner/Patch)

"The plaque reads, 'This building is named in memory of Susan Barnhart by an Act of Congress.' Beginning today, this plaque will remind everyone coming into this post office of a fond memory of Susan. Some children in the future as well as adults will inquire who Susan Barnhard was and her life and story will be shared. It would almost be fitting when telling her story that the storyteller describes Susan with a big smile. That would be the most fitting tribute to Susan," he said.

The legislation designating the postal facility was sponsored by Bucks County Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1), who represents the district where the post office is located, and New Jersey Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), who represents the district where Barnhart lived in New Jersey.

"We needed all 17 members of the Pennsylvania delegation to sign onto this. As you know, the Pennsylvania delegation is very broad and diverse. They don't agree on many things. They all agreed - unanimously - on this," said Fitzpatrick.

"This is about honoring someone who gave so much of herself, to this place and the people in it. It was about making sure her memory lived on and her presence was felt every day," said Fitzpatrick. "Renaming a post office isn't easy. It literally takes an Act of Congress. Today, the efforts of so many in this community becomes a reality as we designate this building the Susan C. Barnhart Post Office.

""Susan was a model citizen, a dedicated public servant, and a beacon of warmth and kindness," said Fitzpatrick. "She quickly became a comforting presence that customers and colleagues alike looked forward to seeing every day at the Washington Crossing Post Office where she dedicated her professional life.

"As one of her customers beautifully put it, 'Susan was like sunshine. Someone whose smiling face could light up your day the moment you walked in.' Susan's loss, along with the loss of the other victims we tragically lost that day, has left an unimaginable void in our Bucks County community. Through this dedication, her spirit and her legacy will continue to inspire every single one of us."

During her life, Barnhart touched countless lives, treasured the various outdoor activities that Bucks County and New Jersey has to offer, and worked in multiple capacities throughout the community, including at the Washington Crossing and Newtown U.S. Postal Service branches.

"Susan’s joy was helping others, always with a warm smile, and she left a lasting impression on everyone she met," said her sister, Lynda. "She was devoted to her work at the post office and genuinely cared for her customers and co-workers — it was never just a job to her, and she consistently went above and beyond to help others."

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