BRIDGEWATER – Elden D. Bradbury, 93, died Sept. 27, 2011. He was born Sept. 18, 1918, in Bridgewater, son of George and Laura (Kinney) Bradbury.
Elden graduated from Bridgewater Classical Academy and attended Ricker College. He began farming in 1941, but was drafted into the U.S. Army where he served in World War II from 1942 to 1946. After his return from the war, he farmed with his brother, Earl, on the farm known as Bradbury Brothers, until 1985. They also owned and operated the Oliver dealership in Bridgewater for several years. He continued his farming career to this day, as Bradbury Farms, along with his children and grandchildren.
The happiest time of his life was when he became a grandparent loving them all equally, and “Papa’s” greatest joy was spending time with Tory and Taylor. He could be found every day at the office in Bridgewater talking to customers from all throughout the state. He was a fixture in the community and will be missed by many friends and the customers that became his friends. Elden was a member of Bridgewater Odd Fellows, Aroostook Lodge of Masons No. 197 of Mars Hill and Anah Temple Shrine.
He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Eleanor (Berwind) Bradbury; sons, Dale Bradbury and his wife, Barbara, George Bradbury, all of Bridgewater, and Carl Bradbury and his wife, Jennifer, of South Portland; a daughter, Carrie Bradbury of Bridgewater; grandchildren, Tracie Bradbury of Saco, Tory Bradbury and her fiance, Sam Delano, and Taylor Bradbury of Bridgewater, Karleigh, Jenacee, Talia and Drew Bradbury of South Portland; brother-in-law, Andrew Berwind and his wife, Anita, of Redding, Calif.; and a sister-in-law, Ann Bradbury of Avon, Conn. In addition to his parents, Elden was predeceased by a sister, Christie; brothers, Wilber, Leon, Earl and Guy Bradbury; and a nephew, Guy Bradbury.
Private funeral services will be conducted Saturday at Duncan Funeral Home, Mars Hill, with Pastor Frank Randall officiating. Friends are invited to join the family for the committal services 2 p.m. Saturday at Smith Cemetery, Bridgewater. A reception will be after at Bridgewater Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in his memory to the American Macular Degeneration Foundation at www.amdf.org. Online condolences may be made at
www.duncan-graves.com.