William Edward Bradford

William (Bill) Edward Bradford, 83, died on Thursday, May 3 at his home. He was born on December 23, 1923 in McLouth, Kansas, the son of Walter and Alberta (Stout) Bradford. He was the youngest of three children. Bill graduated form McLouth High School in 1940 and attended the University of Kansas until October of 1942, when he entered the Army Air Force. He served for two years in England with the 94th Bomb Group. After his discharge, he returned to KU and graduated in 1947 with a degree in finance. He took a job with Morrell’s in Topeka and entered law school at the University of Kansas in 1950. He worked for Phillips 66 in Bartlesville, Oklahoma for six months and then at the Bank of McLouth for 10 years. He moved to Wamego in 1961 and later became President at the First National Bank. He was married to Joan (Morris) Bradford of Oskaloosa on May 8, 1948 and they had three children, Ann, Kirk, and Stephen. Bill served as President of the Kiwanis Club, Commander of the American Legion, County Chairman of the March of Dimes, Chairman of the Jefferson County Chapter of the National Foundation, President of the Kaw Valley Heart Association, and teacher of Sunday School Class at the McLouth EUB Church. He joined Lyra Lodge Number 256 in 1946 and was Grand Master of Masons AF and AM of Kansas in 1967. He was a 60 year member of the Masonic Lodge. He also was a member of the Eastern Star and of the Royal Arch Masons. In Wamego, he served on the hospital board, the school board, Lions Club, Treasurer of the local Chamber of Commerce, and he served as a member of the Official Board of the First Methodist Church of Wamego. Bill was also very active in KU alumni activities. He is survived by: his wife, Joan of the home; his three children, Ann Bradford Yingling and her husband Major General John A. Yingling of Atlanta, GA, Kirk Charles Bradford and wife Anne of Marysville, KS, and Stephen James Bradford and his wife Diana of Branson, MO; his ten grandchildren, Scott, Brooke and Elizabeth Yingling, Chris and Scott Bradford, Katie Bradford Gray, Julie Bradford Hendershot, and Tessa, Maura and Victoria Bradford; his two great grandchildren Reece and Ava Gray; and his sister Louise of McLouth. Bill was preceded in death by his sister Helen in 1990. Memorial services will be 2:00 p.m. Wednesday May 9, at Stewart Funeral Home of Wamego. Private inurnment will be in McLouth Cemetery. A memorial visitation will be Tuesday evening at the funeral home from 7-8:30 p.m. Memorials have been established in Bill’s name for the University of Kansas William’s Educational Fund and may be left in care of Stewart Funeral Home of Wamego, P.O. Box 48, 66547.