Gordon H. Bradbury, 86, of Turlock, passed away at Doctor‘s Hospital in Modesto on March 6, 2014. 

Gordon was born in Enfield, ME to Charles and Ida Bradbury. He graduated from high school in 1945, immediately enlisted in the Navy and served until 1949.  He attended and graduated from Syracuse University in New York, where he met and married Elizabeth “Betty” Bowman in May of 1954. They had four children.  Gordon joined the U.S. Air Force and spent nearly 25 years as a navigator aboard several aircraft and participated in over 200 combat missions. 

When he retired in 1977, Gordon moved his family to Turlock where he opened a store, Hobbies & Things, which he operated for over ten years.  

Gordon loved to travel, especially visiting friends and family across the country.  He and Betty spent nearly every summer in Maine in a cabin by the lake near where he grew up.  He also enjoyed reading, watching John Wayne movies and building model railroads.  Gordon was active for many years in Kiwanis and the United Methodist Church.

Gordon was preceded in death by his parents, his daughter Cindy, and his brother, Donald. He is survived by his wife of almost sixty years, Betty; three children: Andrea (Raymond) Connell of Columbus, OH, Michael (Melinda) Bradbury of Sacramento and Charles (Brenda) Bradbury of Denver; his sister, Joan (Bill) Dike of Woodward, OK; and nine cherished grandchildren.

A service will be held on Tuesday, March 11th at 11 a.m. at the United Methodist Church at 1660 Arbor Way in Turlock.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested for Heifer International, 1 World Ave, Little Rock, AR 72202.