HODGDON and CAPE ELIZABETH – Arlene Howared Bradbury, passed away peacefully Nov. 18, 2005, in her sleep in Cape Elizabeth, shortly after her 87th birthday. The youngest daughter of Elwood and Jemima Howard, of Hodgdon, she was born on Armistice Day, 1918. She grew up on Westford Hill and studied to be a teacher at Aroostook State Normal School in Presque Isle, where she met her future husband, Gerald Bradbury, of Bridgewater. She became a war bride in 1943, and helped her returning bomber pilot husband operate a successful general store in Bridgewater, then sold it and with their three young children, followed him as his new airline pilot’s career took them to New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, North Carolina and then Exeter, N.H. With her children grown, Arlene was able to resume her studies and in 1967 received a bachelor of arts in education from the University of New Hampshire in Durham. After Jerry retired from Eastern Airlines in 1970, he and Arlene relocated to Florida and became residents of Marine Tower in Fort Lauderdale. They spent most of their time there, at their camp on Pleasant Lake in Island Falls, and touring the USA in their motor home, often in the company of their grandson, Daniel. It was in Fort Lauderdale that she was finally able to use her marvelous talents as a teacher, working with special needs children at The Mills School for many years. Arlene lost her beloved husband of 59 years in 2002 and since then ahs been living at The Village Crossing in Cape in Cape Elizabeth, near the home of her duaghter and son-in-law, Penny and Richard Armstrong also of Cape Elizabeth. Her two sons, Jerry Jr. and Bruce Bradbury of Berkeley and Napa, Calif., respectively, flew in for regular visits. Good friend, faithful wife and loving mother, she is survived by her sister, Natalie Porter, of Limington, and her sister-in-law, Eleanor Howard of Hodgdon and Morris Plains, N.J. Arlene leaves a large fmaily of nieces and nephews in the Portland area, as well as her children and two grandsons, Daniel Bradbury of Egham in Surrey, England and John Bradbury of Berkeley, Calif. Arlene will be remembered for her contributions to the community, her cheerful attitude, her kind words of support, her lust for life and her devotion to her family. She touched many lives and will be missed by all of us.
ARLENE HOWARD BRADBURY
