George A. Bradley's Obituary
George A. Bradley, 96, of Springdale died January 28. He was born December 4, 1926 near Staunton, Virginia; the son of Frank Bradley and Alverta Shull Bradley. He was preceded in death by wife Freda, half-brothers Franklin and Ben Bradley, and his sister Jean Wilson.
George lived with his grandparents in Virginia and his parents in Delaware while growing up. He attended public schools in Virginia and Delaware and graduated from Bridgeville, Delaware High School in 1944.
George served in the United States Army from April 1945 until January 1947. He was in both the infantry and engineers and served in Japan and Korea.
George attended University of Delaware and obtained his B.S. degree in Horticulture. George earned two freshmen and six varsity letters in track and cross country and was chosen captain of the cross country team in 1950. He enrolled at Cornell in 1951 and received an M.S in 1953 and PhD in 1955.
George spent his career at the University of Arkansas, beginning as Assistant Professor of Horticulture and Forestry in 1955. He was appointed Professor and department chair in 1968 and served in this position until retiring in 1991. He was involved with teaching, research, graduate student advising, administration and campus governing. He was active in state, national and international horticultural societies and was named a Fellow of the American Society for Horticultural Science in 1975.
George thoroughly enjoyed life, especially after he met the love of his life Freda in 1958, when she was attending the University of Arkansas for a Masters in Elementary Education. He and Freda joined the choir at Central United Methodist Church in 1961 and sang for many decades. George and Freda enjoyed sports, music and the arts and visited museums in the U.S. and Europe. They enjoyed Razorback sports and held season tickets for football, basketball, and baseball for most of their lives together.
George joined the Church of the Brethren in Virginia in 1935. After marrying Freda in 1959, he joined Central United Methodist Church in Fayetteville. George served on many committees and the Administrative Board. He served as Chair of both the Trustees and Pastor Parish Committees.
George is survived by son Steven and his wife Kathy of Springdale AR and by daughter Susan of Dallas TX, as well as grandsons Matthew, Kevin and Blake Bradley and granddaughter Cassidy Anderson and her husband Roger Anderson. George had a two-year-old great-grandson, Rome Anderson, as well as another soon to be born. Children and grandchildren of George’s late sister, Jean Wilson of Delaware, also survive, as well as other relatives in Virginia and Delaware.
A service of commitment will be held at 10:00 am this Friday, February 3, at Fairview Memorial Gardens in Fayetteville (open to all) followed by a memorial service in the sanctuary at Central United Methodist Church in Fayetteville at 11:00 AM. Memorials may be made to the Circle of Life Hospice, 901 Jones Rd. Springdale, AR 72762.
To sign the online guest book please visit www.bernafuneralhomes.com
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