Richard Wayne Bradford
Richard Wayne “ Nip” Bradford passed away peacefully in his
home on Sunday, August 6, 2017 after a lengthy battle with
cancer.
Nip was born in Cranbrook, BC as one of 8 children to Marna “Tex” and Gertrude Bradford and grew up in the Blarchmont area of Kimberley, BC. He is pre-deceased by both his parents, sister Wendy-Sue, sister-in-law Sherri “Sue” (Myles), brother Marna and sister Joanne (Glen).
He is survived by his loving wife of 48 years Mary “Molly”,
his son Michael (Meagan), two grand-daughters (Carys
and Seren), sisters Norma (Ken) and Sylvia (Nick), brothers
Leland “Wink” and Myles.
Nip was a life-long skier involved in the Canadian Ski
Instructors’ Alliance (CSIA) and Canadian Association
for Disabled Skiing (CADS) as well as a pilot and aircraft
mechanic. Throughout his career and life he taught hundreds of able-bodied and handicapped people to ski and become instructors. He was involved in helping to promote and develop the early days of the CSIA and CADS and was
inducted into the CSIA Hall of Fame. He was director of
the Kimberley Ski School for 32 years and was honoured by
the Resorts of Canadian Rockies after his retirement by the
renaming of his favourite run to Bradford’s Blvd.
As a pilot and mechanic, he worked at Kootenay Airways, S
& S Aviation as well as doing many years of crop dusting in
the Creston Valley. Over the years he fixed numerous aircraft for family and friends, as he was well known for his skills with fabric aircraft .
He had a long battle with cancer and his family would like
to thank all the doctors, nurses and support staff at the
East Kootenay Regional Hospital Oncology Department,
the Southern Interior Rotary Lodge and the Oncology
Department of the Kelowna General Hospital.
A memorial in Nip’s honour will be held this fall in Kimberley.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the BC Cancer
Agency or the Canadian Cancer Society.
Arrangements entrusted to McPherson Funeral Service.
Condolences for the family can be offered at:
www.mcphersonfh.com