Robert Bradford

Robert Lee "Bob" Bradford was born November 7, 1921, four minutes after his twin sister Stella, the seventh of fourteen children. His parents, Isaac Eve and Beulah Tabor Bradford lived near Groesbeck, Texas on a cotton farm. When he was seven months old the family crossed the Red River and went into Oklahoma near Durham. Times were hard and the children left school early to pick cotton. When he was sixteen, he joined the CCC and later the WPA to help the family. He was eager to learn each new task and was soon able to get a job for himself. In 1942, he was drafted into service during World War II. He served in the 381st bomb group in the Army Air Force. The base was near Cambridge, England, where he met his first wife Ann Brookland. They were married after his honorable discharge. They lived in Wichita where he worked for Boeing, OA Sutton, and was supervisor of maintenance in the school district. After she passed away from Lou Gehrigs disease, he moved to Emporia where he married Dorothy Rowlands. After her death in 2002, he farmed and worked as an electrician at Wolf Creek while it was being built. In 2004, he married Lois Lindsey from Iola. They lived in the Emporia area. They enjoyed dancing and met many new friends. In 2010, his health began to fail and they moved back to Iola. He passed away May 14, 2011, at his home. He is survived by his wife of the home, two step-daughters, Denise Byrd of Iola and Brenda Braynard of Emporia, three step-grandchildren, eight step-great grandchildren, a sister, Martha Brigham of Kerrville, TX, many nieces and nephews and other family members. He was a loving husband and family man. FUNERAL SERVICE: 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, May 18, 2011, at the Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Chapel in Iola. Chaplain Lloyd W. Houk will officiate. The family will receive friends at the chapel an hour prior to the service. BURIAL: Logue Cemetery east of LeRoy, Kansas MEMORIAL: The Robert L. Bradford Memorial Fund Memorial gifts may be left with the Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Memorial Chapel of Iola, which is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences for the family may be left on this website, www.iolafuneral.com .