Edward K. Bradford, 77, of Frenchville died Friday, Oct. 28, 2016 at Penn Highlands Clearfield.
Mr. Bradford was born July 19, 1939 in Karthaus, the son of Robert and Anna Mae (Dixon) Bradford.
He was a 1957 graduate of Cooper Township High School, where he played baseball and participated in the Drama Club and the marching band.
Mr. Bradford played trumpet in Jerry’s Notes, a band that he and his brother formed.
He was passionate about baseball and had the talent that led him to continue playing for Frenchville in the Clearfield County League, the Clearfield Indians and the DuBois Rockets in the JC League.
He later elevated to manager of the Rockets. He also played softball for APACA in Pottsville.
Mr. Bradford was employed by Baltimore Life Insurance Company for more than 30 years, where he rose to district manager and received several achievement awards. He was also the owner of the R&A Bus Company of Frenchville.
He was a very active member of the Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Karthaus.
He was a member of the Mosquito Creek Sportsmen’s Association, the Frenchville Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Quehanna Lions Club, where he was twice awarded the Melvin Jones Fellow Award. He was a former member of the Pottsville Masonic Lodge.
He enjoyed hunting, attending the theater and he found no greater pleasure than following his granddaughters and grandsons in their various activities and celebrating all their achievements.
Mr. Bradford enjoyed family above all else. He married Marcella Billotte in 1957, and they were blessed with two daughters, Kathy Ann and Pamela Jean. He loved his nieces and nephews as if they were his own and welcomed with open arms his new extended family from his marriage to Betty (Lawrence) Hoffman.
He is survived by his wife, Betty, to whom he was married Nov. 3, 2007 at the Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, and two daughters, Kathy Kuzio (Andrew) of Forestville and Pamela Bacon (John) of Hummelstown.
He is survived by a brother, Jerome K. Bradford (Elsie) of Seaford, Va.; granddaughters, Heidi Petritsch (Jeff) of Cressona and Hilary Hernley (Eric) of Forestville; grandsons, Joshua B. Bacon and Jarek E. Bacon of Hummelstown; step-sons, Dennis Hoffman (Laurie) of Karthaus and Rodney Hoffman of Lanse; step-grandchildren, Benjamin Hoffman (Jessica) and Jared Hoffman of Karthaus; and one step-great-grandson, Jacob.
Mr. Bradford was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, Marcella, and two granddaughters, Holly and Haley Kuzio.
Honoring Mr. Bradford’s wishes, there will be no public visitation. A Celebration of Life Service will be announced at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial contributions be made to the Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, 3637 Main St., Karthaus, PA 16845.
The Bennett & Houser Funeral Home Inc. of Clearfield is in charge of the arrangements.
To send online tributes, go to www.bennettandhouser.com or www.mem.
