BARBARA M. BRADFORD

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Barbara M. Bradford, 93, passed away on Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2019, in Fort Worth, Texas.

A daughter of Thomas and Bertha Stuck Baker, she grew up in Plumerville, Arkansas. She held a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Arts in education from the University of Arkansas. Professionally, she started as an instructor in early childhood education at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. After moving to Sumter in 1966, she worked in a behavioral therapy center, was director of a church preschool, the director of preschool at a local private school, and owned a boutique gift shop in the local mall. While there, she and her family were active members of First Baptist Church and Alice Drive Baptist Church. After she retired in 1989, they moved back to Northwest Arkansas, where she regularly taught flower arranging classes and was active in leadership at Bella Vista Baptist Church and Village Baptist Church. She and her husband, Dale, were founding members of two churches in Arkansas - University Baptist Church, Fayetteville, and Village Baptist in Bella Vista, Arkansas.

She is survived by her three sons, Charles Bradford of Indianapolis, Indiana, Randall Bradford and wife, Debbie, of Fort Worth and Robert Bradford and wife, Mary, of Overland Park, Kansas; four grandchildren; a nephew, Tom Clark of Michigan; and niece, Sharon Barrie of Michigan.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Dale T. Bradford; and a sister, Mary Folk of Clarkston, Michigan.

Burial will be at Fayetteville National Cemetery, Fayetteville, next to her husband. A memorial service for family and friends will be held in early Summer 2019.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the Alzheimer's Association at alz.org or the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering of the North American Mission Board / Southern Baptist Convention at https://www.anniearmstrong.com.