Charles W. Bradley

Charles W. (Bill) Bradley, age 70, died peacefully after a long illness on June 6, 2004. His wife and son were at his side. Bill was a 53 year resident of Hancock, New Hampshire. Born in Reading, PA and raised in Lancaster, he graduated from The High School of Ridgewood, New Jersey, in 1951, earned his BA in The Arts at the University of New Hampshire in 1955, and an MS in Systems Management from the University of Southern California in 1974. Bill joined the United States Air Force from Reserve Officers’ Training Corps in September 1955 and served for 26 years until 1981 when he retired as a full Colonel. During his military career he was sent to flying training school and graduated as a Fighter Pilot in 1956. He later served as an Instructor Pilot training over 25 pilots in low level reconnaissance navigation, he became the Director of Flight Safety, the Wing Chief of Safety, Liaison Officer to the South Korean Army/Air Force Operations, a Base Operations Officer and Vice Base Commander, the Personnel Officer and Executive Officer for the Director, Minuteman Missiles, the Chief of Foreign Fighter Aircraft Intelligence and the Director of Personnel, Maintenance and Materiel for the Foreign Technology Division, USAF. Airplanes he flew included the T-34, T28, T-33, F86L, F104A/B, RF101, F101B, RF4C, F4D/E, and the O-2. His station locations were in Texas; Arizona; Massachusetts; Taiwan, China; Laon Air Base, France; South Carolina; Idaho; Florida; Seoul, South Korea; Taegu, South Korea; California; and Ohio. among others. After leaving the service in 1981 he returned to Hancock and became the General Manager of Andover Graphics Inc., a typesetting company in Bedford, NH. In 1982 he moved to the Bedford Computer Corporation as Manager of Customer Service. 1983 saw bankruptcy for Bedford Computer and Bill found a temporary job as an Assistant Accountant at a Rindge NH Marina. During the period 1988 through 1989 he worked at a NYC Hotel as General Manager and Accountant and developed an entrepreneurship for Carmen’s Kitchen, a manufacturer and distributor of gourmet rum cakes. From 1986 to 1995 he was a Computer Consultant out of his home in Hancock. He married Martha Velez, a Registered Nurse from New York City in 1961. Bill leaves his wife, son John Hayward Bradley of Dover, NH, sister Ruth Anne Bradley of College Station, Texas and several nieces and nephews. There are no visiting hours. A memorial service will be held at First Congregational Church, Main Street Hancock, NH, Thursday, June 10, 2004, at 4:00pm. At the request of the deceased and his family, donations may be made to the Hancock Fire and Rescue Service. The Cremation Society of New Hampshire is in charge of arrangements. To view his on line obituary or to send condolences go to www.csnh.com