Bradford, William Theodore
On Tuesday, October 20, William “Theodore” Bradford, 81, of Elliston, departed this earth early in the morning. He bravely and determinedly fought a good fight with esophageal cancer. He was determined to beat the cancer so that he could go back to work.
He was born on October 14, 1934 in Christiansburg, VA. He was preceded in death by his father, William Frank Bradford, and his mother, Pearlie Bradford, and sister-in-law JoAnne Bradford.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Barbara Sarver Bradford; son Tony Bradford and his wife Laura; daughter Vickie Spangler and husband Denny Spangler; and daughter Libby Bradford; three granddaughters: Alaina and Scott Lawrence, Olivia and Brian Harris, Christina Bradford, and little David Lee Lawrence, his only great grandchild; his brother, Harold Bradford.
He served as a reservist in the 684 Signal Company of the Virginia National Guard. He served eleven years, with one year of active duty during the Berlin Crisis. He achieved the rank of Sergeant.
He was a hard-working, honest man, working as an insulator for 50+ years. He retired from working after years with Blacksburg Insulation and C.E. Thurston & Sons. But two of his favorite things in life were work and church, so he went back to work for Kirby-Vass Insulation. He worked for them until early July, when he became too weak to work.
He was a religious man and loved to study and talk about the Bible. He was a member as well as a Sunday School teacher and superintendent at Riverview Holiness Church.
He loved animals and fed any and all of God’s creatures. He particularly loved and enjoyed his two granddogs Nellie Belle and Rocky.
The family wishes to thank many friends, family, and community members for their care, love, and support. Special thanks to Virgil and Colleen Sarver, Mike Sarver, and Lynn and Mary Lois Reese, Kirby-Vass and the congregation of the Blacksburg Christian Church.
The family would also like to thank Dr. Vandana Karri, Lewis Gale Oncology, and both Kim and Ashley with Good Samaritan hospice for their loving and tender care during his final days.
Flowers are welcomed. If you would like to make a donation in his name, please donate to the Montgomery County Friends of Animal Care & Control, 125 North Main Street, Suite 500, #129, Blacksburg, VA 24060.
Funeral services will be conducted Friday, October 23, 2015 at 11:00 am in the McCoy Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Jason Meredith and Rev. Gary McCoy officiating. Interment will follow in the Halls Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5 to 8 pm Thursday evening at the McCoy Funeral Home, 150 Country Club Drive SW, Blacksburg.
Tuesday, October 20, 2015