Obituary of William Bradfield

The family of William E. Bradfield announce his passing at his Palm City, FL home.

Born in Philadelphia, PA, he spent the majority of his life working and living in that city and its suburbs. He moved to Florida in 1995 and to his current home in Palm City in 2010. He was a graduate of West Catholic High School in Philadelphia and attended Drexel University and The University of Pennsylvania's evening division.

As a youth in Manoa, Pennsylvania, he was known for his fine singing voice and could often be heard on the weekly radio broadcast of "The Irish Hour" singing solo or as a member of the popular quartet "The Four Provinces". He nurtured his love of music and his penchant for performing throughout his life and gifted it to his children and grandchildren.

During World War II he served with pride and honor in the US Navy as a chief radioman aboard the USS Euryale in the South Pacific. His ship was among the first American warships to enter Japan's Sasebo Harbor at the end of the war. As a result, he witnessed, first hand, the devastation of the fire bombings and nuclear weapons that ended the War. Following the war, he became the President and Secretary of the USS Euryale Alumni Association and was active in numerous reunions of his former crewmates.

Following the war, he took a position at Provident Mutual Life Insurance Company in Philadelphia from which he grew to the position of Vice President for Group Insurance. In his 40 year career he became a renowned expert in the burgeoning field of group insurance and was a frequent speaker at national trade organizations. He also taught at the American College of Life Underwriters in Bryn Mawr, PA.

Always involved in community affairs, he raised his 8 children in Springfield, Pennsylvania where he was active in the Knights of Columbus, The Boy Scouts of America and a host of local organizations. But his real love was music and performing. In addition to singing at weddings nearly every Saturday, he, as a member of St Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, was one of the founders of the little theater group, "The St. Francis Players". On stage he held starring roles in such productions as My Fair Lady, The Mikado, Kiss Me Kate, Showboat, Camelot, and South Pacific. His rich baritone was always a hallmark of the troupe's performances.

In recent years he was a member of the Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Palm City. He had also been a member of St. Mary Catholic Church in Korona, Florida. He was a Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus, past Faithful Navigator, Grand Knight and founder of the Flagler Council.

Survivors include his wife of 65 years, Jeanne Spillane Bradfield of Palm City: daughters, Mimi Horstmann of Ormond Beach, FL, Jeanne Kunkel of Bel Air, MD and Mary Lee Rose of Columbia, MD; sons, William T. Bradfield of Greenville, SC, James E. Bradfield of Palm City, FL, Joseph J. Bradfield of Groveland, FL, and Edward A. Bradfield of Lakewood, OH; a brother, John J. Bradfield of Exton, PA; twenty-six grandchildren and six great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a son, Michael F. Bradfield and a brother, Brian P. Bradfield.

SERVICES: A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 AM on October 20, 2011 at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church. Inurnment will follow in South Florida VA National Cemetery, Lake Worth, FL with military honors provided by the U.S. Navy. In addition, the family is planning a memorial service at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Korona, Florida at a future date.

For those who wish, contributions may be made to the Treasure Coast Hospice, 1201 SE Indian Street, Stuart, FL 34997, or at 772/403-4530 or on line at www.tchospices.org

Arrangements were under the direction of the Forest Hills Funeral Homes Palm City Chapel. An online register book is available at: www.foresthillspalmcityflorida.com.