Donald Emory Bradford , 81, passed peacefully surrounded by loving family on Tuesday, November 1, 2022. How fitting for him to return home to his loving Lord and Savior on All Saints Day! Born November 18, 1940, in Chicago, Illinois, Don lost his parents at a young age. He and his younger brother, Richard William, were thereafter raised by their Uncle Bob and Aunt Ruth (Wicks). He met the love of his life, Kay Elizabeth Foust, while attending Rich Township High School in Park Forest, Illinois; they were happily married for 57 years before her passing in July 2019.
Don served in the United States Coast Guard from 1959 through 1963, continuing with the Coast Guard Reserves until 1965. He made a running joke of the fact that – while he operated on America’s maritime front lines – he never learned to swim. He loved to spin a tale or two as to how he navigated the swimming challenges for Basic Training!
After stationed several years in New Jersey, Don and Kay returned to Chicago, where Don began a decade-long career with the Illinois Central Railroad. While working and raising three young children, Don attended night classes at Prairie State College. He later took a position as Sales Associate with Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company (PPG) and moved his family to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Having developed his knack for sales and with an appetite for independence, Don’s entrepreneurial spirit took hold in 1979, when he founded Bradford Enterprises. The family moved to Germantown, Tennessee, and Don remained self-employed as a manufacturer’s representative until his retirement.
Don battled Alzheimer’s disease during his final years. Before then, he was energetic, always on the go and driven by strong work ethic. He was self-taught and took a determined approach to every task; there was never a challenge he wouldn’t tackle! Don taught his three children countless lessons with hallmark statements, great patience, and care. Quite the prankster, he loved to laugh and was always prepared with a joke. He never met a stranger and could break the ice instantly with a flash of his smile and a story well-told.
Don is predeceased by his wife and brother. He leaves behind his children: Carole (Mike) Johnson, Karen (Mark) Partlow, and Don (Rhonda) Bradford; nine grandchildren: Bryan (Kristin) and Andrew (Alex) Johnson; Brooke, Josh, Bradley Partlow, and Leeanne (David) Kenny; and Emory, Ashlyn, and Owen Bradford; and two great-granddaughters: Riley and Mackenzie Johnson.
Don was a member of St. Andrews Episcopal Church of Collierville. The family will hold a private graveside service at Maplewood Cemetery in Ripley, Tennessee, at 11 AM on Saturday, November, 5, 2022. Garner Funeral Home of Ripley has charge of the services.
With grateful hearts, the family would like to recognize the devotion of the wonderful caregivers to Don over the years at both at Ave Maria Home and Heritage at Irene Woods Memory Care. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to Page Robbins Adult Day Center (www.pagerobbins.org) in Collierville, Tennessee.
