Kenneth Bradford

After a life well lived, Kenneth Owen Bradford, 83, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, passed away on September 5, 2025.

Born on August 8, 1942, in Tulsa to George Owen and Nora Belle (Harris) Bradford, Kenneth's curiosity and analytical mind naturally led him into civil engineering. After earning his bachelor's degree from Oklahoma State University and a master's from the University of Kansas, he spent his career shaping the infrastructure of communities. His work included Tulsa's Inner Dispersal Loop bridge interchange, the award-winning, lion-adorned Czech Village bridge in Cedar Rapids, and numerous streets and intersections in Tulsa, Kansas City, Olathe, KS, and Cedar Rapids, IA. He would jokingly profess frustration that not everyone could follow roads quite as precisely as he designed them.

On August 28, 1963, Kenneth married his college sweetheart and the love of his life, Lucretia Jane ("Janie") Bradford. For over 60 years, their life together was woven with love, adventure, and unshakeable partnership. Together they raised two children and were blessed with six grandchildren.

Beyond engineering, Kenneth was a dedicated community leader. He served as an adult leader for a large Boy Scout troop and was active in the Heart of America Council in Kansas City, where he completed Brownsea Leadership Training, a national-level adult leadership program, and earned the prestigious Silver Beaver Award for his service. Together with his wife Janie, he faithfully served in many capacities within the churches they attended throughout their marriage, always leading with a spirit of service and devotion to their faith community.

Kenneth also held a long-standing leadership role as president of Pine Island Park at Grand Lake, where the family spent countless joyful summers. After retiring in 2007, Kenneth and Janie adopted a snowbird lifestyle-splitting their time between Pine Island Park; Bit-O-Heaven in Donna, Texas, where they enjoyed a vibrant community and day trips into Mexico; and their home in Tulsa. Together, they loved to travel the world-often by cruise ship-and made many of these adventures with their favorite companions, nephew (and best friend extraordinaire) Lester Ward and his wife Rhoda, creating memories that will always be treasured.

Kenneth was also an avid sports fan, never missing a Kansas City Chiefs or Royals game. Whether at Scout campouts, family gatherings, church services, ballparks, or lakeside barbecues, he brought gentle humor, unwavering guidance, and the deep love he gave so freely.

He is survived by his devoted wife, Janie, with whom he shared a lifetime of love and adventure; son Tom Bradford and wife Carmen, and their children Nicole Whittington, Sloane, Alex, and Levi; daughter Lynn (Jennifer) Gauna and husband Dan, and their children Zachery Wernimont and wife Jess Wernimont, and Raymond Wernimont, and stepchildren Zachary and Jessica Gauna; nephew Lester Ward and wife Rhoda, and their children Debbie Fleming and Greg Ward; nephew Johnie Lee Bradford, and his children John Robert and Justin; nephew David Bradford, his wife Donna, and their children April, Amanda, and George; niece Nancy Clayton and husband Eddie, and their children Angela and Theresa; Robin Engle, Russell Engle, and Rocki Sugrue, children of his late brother-in-law Ralph Engle; as well as many other family and friends.

He is also fondly remembered by nephew Lester Ward and wife Rhoda, and their children Debbie Fleming and Greg Ward; nephew Johnie Lee Bradford, and his children John Robert and Justin; nephew David Bradford and wife Donna, and their children April, Amanda, and George; and niece Nancy Clayton and husband Eddie, with their children Angela and Theresa. Kenneth's life was further enriched by nieces and nephews Robin Engle, Russell Engle, and Rocki Sugrue, children of his late brother-in-law Ralph Engle; along with many other extended family and dear friends who will miss him greatly.

He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Nora Belle Bradford; his sisters Ethel and husband Loyd Ward, and Ruth and husband Jack Grimes; his brother John and wife Esther; his nephews, Jackie Grimes, David Bradford and Mike Ward; his parents-in-law William and Lucretia Pat Engle; and his brother-in-law Ralph Engle.

Kenneth leaves behind a legacy of faith, service, and family that will continue across the communities he touched. More than anything, he believed deeply that family was life's greatest blessing, even if he sometimes wondered why people couldn't follow the roads as neatly as he planned them.

The family of Kenneth Owen Bradford invites you to join them for an Open House Celebration of Life on Saturday, September 20, 2025, from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 112 E College St, Broken Arrow, OK 74012. This will be a time to gather, share memories, and celebrate a life well lived. Light refreshments will be served.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Kenneth's memory to the Indian Nations Council, Boy Scouts of America, 4925 S. Garrett Road, Tulsa, Oklahoma, or online at www.okscouts.org.

Arrangements are entrusted to Schaudt's Tulsa Funeral Service, 5757 S. Memorial Dr. Tulsa, OK 74145. Family and friends may leave kind words of comfort, special memories and condolences to the family online at www.schaudtfuneralservice.com