Anne Brading Obituary

Anne Brading

September 3, 1938 -

November 25, 2025

Gifted pianist, beloved mother, grandmother, aunt and friend, Anne T. Brading, a Johnson City native, passed away on November 25, 2025. Her amiability, curiosity, and love of people won her many devoted friends. As a distinguished member of the Johnson City arts community, she improved the area's cultural life, both as an artist and benefactor.

Anne's lineage encompassed many generations in Johnson City, and her deep love of the East Tennessee hills led her to call herself a mountain girl. Throughout childhood and as an adult, she reveled in the quiet beauty of Ripshin Lake, where her father, Edward T. Brading, helped establish the Ripshin Lake Corporation. She spent many happy hours with her family and friends at this lakeside community.

She is survived by her three children: Carolyn Dowd and husband Clif Rompf; Stephen Dowd and wife Diane Rigda; Edith Dowd; and granddaughter, Cassandra Dowd. She also is survived by many loving nieces, nephews and cousins. Also by step-children Barbara Lynn Chaffins and Mark Frederick Peplies and step-granddaughter Becky Chaffins. Additionally, she is lovingly remembered by her attentive caretaker, Jane Simonson, who is now considered part of the Brading/Dowd family.

She served on the boards of directors for the Johnson City Area Arts Council and the Johnson City Symphony Orchestra; as treasurer for Girls Incorporated; and as treasurer and advisor for Bravissima. She was also a member of Questers Book Club and famously, the Friday Night Wine and Dinner Club.

As Assistant Professor of Piano at Milligan College and East Tennessee State University, and as a private piano teacher, she taught numerous students for many years before changing course in mid-life to become certified as a Public Accountant. After earning her CPA, she served for 20 years as the Comptroller with the City of Johnson City. She earned her Bachelor of Music at Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio; Master of Music in Piano at the New England Conservatory of Music, Boston, MA.

She is preceded in death by her spouse, Dr. Robert W. Peplies, an ETSU geography professor and researcher, with whom she shared many adventures, traveling to exotic, intriguing places in their 31-year, later-in-life marriage. They brought each other joy and enjoyed a wide circle of friends. Upon Bob's death in 2018, Anne traveled to Teterow, Germany to speak on his behalf to The Thunen Society, an international group established by Dr. Peplies and Rolf-Peter Bartz.

Also preceding her in death is her first husband, John A. Dowd, a pianist, composer and former Chair of the Music Department of Milligan College. In their 25-year marriage, they enjoyed each other's musical gifts, playing four-handed piano and seeking out musical performances locally and across the country. His sabbatical leave from Milligan allowed the family to live in Reading, England in 1977-78 while Dr. Dowd studied and taught at Oxford and Reading Universities.

She is also preceded in death by her sister and brother-in-law Grace and Donald Spurrell; and brother and sister-in-law James and Ruth Brading; and father and mother, Edward T. and Edith M. Brading.

Her musicianship extends to the next generation with all children involved in musical pursuits. Carolyn is a singer, songwriter, pianist, guitarist and cellist. Stephen is a violinist and Edith is an internationally celebrated contralto currently singing full-time with the San Francisco Opera.

She received tremendous care from nurses and staff at the retirement and assisted living facilities where she made her home in late life. In particular, Colonial Hill Retirement Home and NHC provided excellent care.

As in life, Anne demonstrated her generosity to deserving causes in her death: she donated her body to the Quillen School of Medicine to help train future physicians and aid in their research.

A memorial service will be scheduled at a later time.