Earl Edward Bradford, 88, passed away on Oct. 21, 2022, with family by his side after a battle with COPD.
SMITHFIELD — Earl Edward Bradford, 88, passed away on Oct. 21, 2022, with family by his side after a battle with COPD.
He was born in Brooks and attended Morse Memorial in Brooks, getting his GED in the Army. In 1951, he joined the Army and served two tours in Korea. He was an MP in Korea, a mechanic in Korea and a stevedore in Alaska. He was honorably discharged in 1963.
In 1964, he married Avis Bradford and worked as a woodman before becoming a Mayflower driver for Barrows Transfer, traveling to places from Delaware to Newfoundland. From there he went to work for Fox & Ginn as a mechanic for many years, and then went to Bill’s Oil Service as a tanker driver. He was forced to take medical retirement in 1985.
He enjoyed traveling by RV to Arizona for 15 years, visiting grandchildren in North Carolina and Texas along the way. While traveling he met many new friends and made many memories along the way. When ill health and the pandemic forced him to stop traveling, he spent many hours reading (139 books during the pandemic), bird watching, and sitting on his deck amidst the many shrubs and flowers he had planted.
He was predeceased by his parents, Guy and Mary Bradford; two sisters, Romona and Stella; and two brothers, Donald and Gerald.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Avis Bradford; his four children, Earl Jr. (Lorraine) of Nebo, N.C.; Keith (Del) of Charlotte, N.C.; Kirby (partner Darlene); and Jennifer of Scarborough. He is also survived by three siblings, Winona Larrabee, Maxine Borden, and Alton Bradford. He has eight grandchildren that he was very proud of, Allison, Dayle, Leigh, Samantha, Alexandra, Dara, Sophia and one grandson Max Bradford, and seven great-grandchildren.
There will be a chapel service with military honors at the Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery at 163 Mount Vernon Road in Augusta on Thursday Oct. 27, 2022, at 10 a.m.
In lieu of flowers you may donate to the COPD Foundation (COPDfoundation.org).
Arrangements are in the care of Wheeler Funeral Home, 26 Church St., Oakland, where condolences, memories, and photos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of the website at lawrybrothers.com.
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