Eugene William "Bud" Bradford

Eugene William “Bud” Bradford, 83, passed away peacefully with his two sisters by his side, on??

Bud was born, March 16, 1939, in Pearson, Georgia, and moved to Fort Pierce, when he was nine months old, with his parents, Eugene and Fannie Bradford, and grew up in the old family home on Delaware Avenue.

Bud attended local schools and graduated with the 1957 Dan McCarty High School Class.

Family and friends all knew Bud as a quiet, reserved, often shy, and private person that never wanted or needed any attention drawn to him.

Bud liked living a simple life and never envied or cared about material wealth, or envied others’ acquisitions, however his most prized possession was his 2002 Toyota pickup that enjoyed a short, gentle ride every day, never leaving St. Lucie County, or doing over 100 miles a week, frequent services, a daily wipe down, and the low mileage of only 90,000 miles after 20 years of ownership. In order to avoid any scratches or dings, Bud would park his truck in spaces on the outskirts of a parking lot and walk to wherever he needed to go.

Bud’s hobbies included geography, solving anything mathematical, country music, and meeting six days a week with his McDonald’s coffee group, (Sundays were reserved for coffee with Geoffrey and me).
He often commented on how much he disliked the “new” country sound and missed the “real” performers like Merle Haggard, Hank Williams, and Johnny Cash. Few people knew that Bud was an accomplished and gifted guitarist, with a sweet melancholy singing voice, because he was too shy to perform. He never had formal musical lessons, but “playing by ear”, he became proficient on the guitar, mandolin, and harmonica. Bud’s musical talent allowed him to listen to a song several times, and then play it back to perfection. One night, after a few beers, too many, and lots of coaxing, Bud jammed with Gary Stewart at Frankie & Johnny’s, and he considered that a rare privilege.

Bud was a hard worker, and prior to retiring from the SLC School District, he worked for the State Department of Transportation, and was well known and respected on his jobs for his dedication and work ethic. People often joked that you could set your watch by Bud’s punctuality, and he did not believe that leaving at the end of the day was an option until the job was completed. Bud’s motto of “giving a man an honest day’s work” echoed loudly throughout his work history.

Although Bud only bought what he needed, and had few desires for any wants, and considered budgeting and saving a serious responsibility, he was generous to a fault with others, and when Bud knew of someone that needed help, he was the first to grab his checkbook. Most of the time it was someone either Linda and I knew, or sometimes even strangers he had heard about, but Bud always insisted on autonomy, and preferred that no one ever know where the money came from him.
Bud was not a warm and demonstrative man, but if he liked you, you didn’t have to second guess, you knew it.

At the onset of Bud’s illness, he told me that he loved me for the one and only time, and although I always knew it, I waited 76 years to hear him say it.
Bud is survived by his devoted sisters and caregivers, Linda Bradford and Barbara Bradford (Geoffrey) Whellams. He is also survived by his nephews, Brad (DJ) Dewson, Roger Jenkins, Josh (Marie) Jenkins, niece, Jennifer(Drew) Hickling, Linda’s seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

Bud was preceded in death, by his devoted parents, Eugene and Fannie, and nephew, Matt Dewson, that never considered a visit with Uncle Bud a success, unless he made him laugh.

Honoring Bud’s wishes, and as he said many, many times, “I want it my way,” there will be no service.
Although Linda and I, and our families are grieving the death of our brother and uncle, we are also at peace that Bud is no longer suffering.

To honor Bud’s life, do something kind for someone else and also treat yourself to doing something you’ve been putting off, for tomorrow is never promised.

For anyone wishing to make a monetary contribution, please keep organizations that deal with Dementia and Parkinson’s in mind, and without them, we could not have made it, Hospice!
It was an honor to take care of our brother and our last days together were sacred and are forever sealed in our hearts.

Love
Is patient and kind
Does not envy or boast
Is not proud of self-seeking
Keeps no records of wrongs
Is not easily angered
Does not delight in evil
But rejoices with the truth
Always protects, always trusts
Always hopes and perseveres
Love never fails
•1 Corinthians 13•

A quiet, humble, obedient son, good brother, and uncle, that will be missed, but in faith, we hold steadfast, that we will see you again, Bud…

Will the circle be unbroken
By, and by, Lord,
By and by
There’s a better home awaiting
In the sky, Lord
In the sky…
~Bud’s favorite performed by Johnny Cash~