Obituary for Bill Bradford

Bill H. Bradford of Tonkawa, Oklahoma, passed away early Thursday morning, August 14, 2014, in Via Christi Village in Ponca City at the age of 74 years.

Interment will be at 2:30 p.m., Tuesday, August 19, 2014, at the Blackwell Cemetery. A service to celebrate his life will follow at 3:00 p.m. in the Blackwell First Christian Church, with Rev. Jeff Koch officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Roberts and Son Funeral Home. Viewing will be only at the funeral home until 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Through Monday evening, the family will be receiving friends at 133 Lansbrook, Ponca City.

Bill H. Bradford was born on November 11, 1939, in Blackwell, Oklahoma, to Onis E. and Ferne D. (Rutter) Bradford. The Bradford family was lifelong members of the First Christian Church and when Bill was eleven years old, he and his mother were baptized at the First Christian Church in Blackwell. He attended Blackwell Public Schools and graduated with the class of 1958. Bill proudly served his country in the National Guard, 45th Division, from 1956 through 1963. He was married to Janice Kay Bullock on March 30, 1957, in Wellington, KS. They moved to Tonkawa, OK, where they raised their son, Brent.

Bill had many career opportunities beginning with his first job at Hart Floral Company. He worked for Arkla Gas Company in Tonkawa for a number of years and then Cyanamid Fertilizer Company in Blackwell. He owned and operated Bill’s DX Service Station in Tonkawa and after selling this business, he worked part-time for Owen DX and Owen Machine and Auto Parts.

Bill adored his granddaughter, Taryn, taking a very active role in her life. The new twinkle in his eye was his great grandbaby, Maryn, born in February of this year. His family was very important to him, and he cherished all of their family gatherings and vacations. They took many camping trips and he loved spending time at the lake. Bill’s hobbies were any outdoor activities, including, hunting, fishing, boating, and working in his yard. His yard was chosen as “Yard of the Week” numerous times. Bill loved animals and adopted several pets. He even had a cat that rode with him around Tonkawa on the back of his red scooter.

Bill’s favorite hobby, though, was going to Oklahoma Sooner football games. He missed many Blackwell High School homecomings to attend the OU/Texas games in Dallas. Bill saw these games as an opportunity to spend time with family and friends and even the strangers he met and invited to tailgate with them. Bill never met anyone with whom he could not strike up a conversation. In later years, he began making lighted football helmets and wooden holiday displays.

He was a dedicated and loving family man with a quiet, simple nature and infectious grin. He was known for his big heart and generosity by helping others.

Those cherishing his memory are his wife Jan of the home; one son, Brent Bradford and wife Joey of Ponca City; one granddaughter, Taryn Seddelmeyer and husband Matt of Jenks; and one great grandbaby, Maryn Seddelmeyer of Jenks.

He was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents.

Honorary casketbearers will be Howard Terrell, Ray Mullins, Ty Mullins, Mike Owen, Rhod Buser, Riley Shaull, Roger Conaghan, and Matt Seddelmeyer.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials in his honor be made to the Blackwell First Christian Church and Hospice of North Central Oklahoma c/o Roberts and Son Funeral Home, 120 West Padon, Blackwell, Oklahoma 74631.