Obit: Bradford, Florence & Charles (1909 – 1978)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
 
Surnames: Bradford, Earl, Miller, Zelaska, Yaun, Pflughoeft, Erickson

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 11/23/1978

Bradford Family (Record Deaths - 1978)

The Bradford family, which had its beginnings in the early 1900’s in the Neillsville area, was dealt a triple blow in mid-September. Recorded was the death of Raymond A. Earl husband of the former Florence Bradford, September 14; the death of Florence, September 16; and the death of Florence’s brother. Charles W. Bradford, September 18. The Earl couple passed away in Oregon of Cancer, and Charles died in Georgia of unreported causes.

Florence, 68, succumbed at the Emanuel Hospital, Portland, Ore. Her husband died two days earlier at the same hospital. She was born on November 14, 1909, in Neillsville to William F. and Anna Miller Bradford. She graduated from Neillsville High School in 1927 and then attended a business college in Minneapolis. Both Florence and Raymond were cremated with graveside services held at the National Cemetery in Portland.

Charles W. Bradford, 64, Charlestown, S.C., died on Monday, September 18, in an Augusta, Ga., hospital. He was born on March 10, 1909, graduated from Neillsville High School and the College of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Mn. He was employed at the north Western Bank of Minneapolis until he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, serving as a gunnery sergeant in WWII and the Korean Conflict. The honor guard of the U.S. Marine Corps had charge of the graveside Memorial Garden Cemetery services in Charlestown.

Surviving both Charles and Florence is one sister, Irene Zelaska, Rockford, Ill. For Charles, he also left one daughter, Mrs. Shelley M. Yaun, Augusta, Ga.; one son, Charles F. Bradford, Charlestown, S.C.; and three grandchildren.

The parents of the deceased, the William Bradfords, lived in the Town of York many years ago, near the old county farm, now owned by Mr. and Mrs. Donald Pflughoeft and family. William Bradford was a sheriff of Clark County.

Mrs. Bradford (nee Miller) was also born and raised in the Town of York before her marriage. She is known by Neillsville area residents as Anna Miller, whose parents resided on a farm now lived upon by Mr. and Mrs. Wallace Erickson.