Iolan Robert Lee “Bob” Bradford died Saturday, May 14, 2011, at his home.
He was born Nov. 7, 1921, four minutes after his twin sister Stella, the seventh of 14 children. His parents, Isaac Eve and Beulah Tabor Bradford lived near Groesbeck, Texas, on a cotton farm. When he was 7 months old the family crossed the Red River and went into Oklahoma near Durham.
At the age of 16, he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps and later the Works Projects Administration to help the family.
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 his wife’s death, he moved to Emporia where he married Dorothy Rowlands. After her death in 2002, he farmed. He also 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. In 2010, his health began to fail and they moved back to Iola.
His wife survives, as do two stepdaughters, Denise Byrd, Iola, and Brenda Braynard, Emporia; three stepgrandchildren; eight stepgreat-grandchildren; a sister, Martha Brigham, Kerrville, Texas; and many nieces, nephews and other family members.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Chapel in Iola. The Rev. Lloyd W. Houk will officiate. The family will receive friends at the chapel an hour prior to the service. Burial will follow at Logue Cemetery east of Le Roy.
Memorials to the Robert L. Bradford Memorial Fund may be left with the funeral home.
Online condolences for the family may be left at www.iolafuneral.com.
‘Bob’ Bradford
