Dr. James C. Bradford

Dr. James Clyde Bradford, 83 of Abilene, passed away at Hendrick Medical Center on Saturday, June 28, 2014. A service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, July 5, 2014 at the University Church of Christ, 733 E.N. 16th with a burial to follow at Elmwood Memorial Park. A visitation with the family will be held Friday, July 4, 2014 from 3:00-5:00 p.m. at Piersall-Benton Funeral Directors, 733 Butternut St.

James C. Bradford was born on August 28, 1930 in Wichita Falls, Texas to B.L. Bradford and Erlene Overbey Bradford. Jim was raised in Iowa Park, Texas and graduated from high school there. He went on to Abilene Christian College for a year. It was during his freshman year at ACC that he met his future wife, Elizabeth, in an English class. Jim would later transfer to North Texas in order to receive his Bachelors and Masters degrees in Mathematics. The two stayed in touch while Jim was away at school and they were married on May 31, 1951 at the 16th and Vine Church of Christ, two days after Elizabeth graduated from college.

After receiving his Bachelors and Masters degrees, Jim went on to earn a Ph.D. in Mathematics from the University of Oklahoma in 1957. While attending graduate school and working in the private sector, Jim and Elizabeth lived in Denton, Texas; Norman, Oklahoma; Pasadena, California and the Washington, D.C. area before returning to Abilene as a professor of Mathematics at Abilene Christian where he taught for 37 years, spending 13 as the Department Chair. Through the years, Jim held several offices and received many awards related to his profession, such as President of the Big Country Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Member of Mathematics Delegation to China as well as being a recipient of a Meritorious Service Award from the Mathematical Association of America. He faithfully served as an Elder for University Church of Christ for over 30 years.

Jim was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years Elizabeth, his parents and a brother, John Bradford. He is survived by a daughter; Susan Vaughan and her husband Earle of Euless, Texas, two sons; Chuck and wife Julie Bradford of Beijing, China and Richard and wife Diane of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and his grandchildren, William Vaughan and wife Danna, Greta and fiancé Tom Gatley, Grace, Caitlin, John, James, David and Paul Bradford.

Condolences may be offered to the family online at www.pbfuneraldirectors.com.