Arvel O. "Brad" Bradford Jr.

Arvel Olin “Brad” Bradford Jr., 91, of Bucyrus passed away peacefully on October 19, 2024 at Orchard Park Assisted Living. His family is very thankful to the entire staff who loved and cared for Brad during his time there.

He was born February 3, 1933 in Imperial, Pennsylvania to the late Arvel and Amelia Bradford. Arvel was a 1950 graduate of West Allegheny High School. In 1954 he earned a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh, graduating second in his class and was a proud tuba player in the Pitt Marching band. He started his career working for IBM as an engineer and then enjoyed a long and distinguished career serving in many leadership roles at General Electric plants in Mason and Bucyrus, Ohio.

In 1955 he married the love of life Joy (Touvell) Bradford; they shared 65 wonderful and fulfilling years. Together they created an abundance of memories for family and the community, including volunteering for 20 years as a team for CONTACT Crawford County. Brad also enjoyed and supported others by being a golf mentor for the Special Olympics.

His children and grandchildren are forever impacted by his legacy of encouraging them to participate in sports fostered by his active role in coaching their baseball, basketball and flag football teams. Life-long family memories were also made during the annual Canadian fishing trips with children and grandchildren. Brad will also be remembered for his faithful companion Stripes, the family cat!

He was a loyal and passionate Pittsburgh sports fan – Steelers, Pirates and Penguins. Golf provided another important contribution to others; he wrote a weekly golf column for the General Electric newsletter. Brad was one of the founding members and longtime participant in the Bucyrus Sports Illustrated “paydirt” football league dating back to 1970.

An important part of Brad and Joy’s life was participation in the life of their church, St. John’s UCC. He especially enjoyed sharing his tenor voice beginning in high school and throughout his life. Brad always looked forward to singing in the Carey Ecumenical Christmas Choir Concert spanning many years.

Brad is survived by his children, Arvel Bradford III and Diane (Doug) Rossman both of Bucyrus; two grandsons, Ben (Kennedie) Rossman of Bucyrus and Brent (Kate) Rossman of Mansfield; two great grandchildren, Luke Rossman and Gatlin Rossman as well as one expected, Sutton Rossman and a brother-in-law, Dick (Jeanne) Touvell of Midland, Michigan. 

In addition to his parents, and wife, Joy Bradford, Arvel was preceded in death by a brother, Walt (Linda) of Butler, Pennsylvania and brother-in-law, Raymond M. (Marilyn) Touvell, Jr. of Zanesville, Ohio.

Family and friends may call from 4 – 7 pm Wednesday, October 23 at Wise Funeral Service, where his funeral will be held at 2:00 pm Thursday with Pastor Gary Schiefer and Pastor Tanyce Addison officiating. Burial will follow in Oakwood Cemetery.

Donations can be made payable to St. John’s UCC or the Humane Society Serving Crawford County and will be accepted through the funeral home. Expressions of sympathy are encouraged to be shared on his guestbook at www.wisefuneral.com.