Albert H. Bradford

Photo:

Albert H. Bradford

TURNER — Albert H. Bradford, 89, of Turner, died Friday morning, January 25, 2013 at his family farm in Turner. He was born on July 25, 1923, in Pittston, a son of Everett and Fannie (Hersey) Bradford. He graduated from Bridgton Academy and went on to Coyne Electrical School in Boston.

Throughout the years he also took courses with the Agriculture Extension through the University of Maine. He was a veteran of the United States Navy and served in the Seabees. Upon his return from the service, he worked in Cortland, NY on a Guernsey dairy cow farm that was owned by J.C. Penney and at the time was the highest appraised herd in the U.S.

In 1950 he moved back home to Maine and went to work on the Clinton Goodnow Farm in Turner. On August 28, 1962, he married Lynette Wagner in Dixfield. They made their home in Turner and in 1963, he purchased the cows and later the farm from the Goodnows and continued the operation.

Mr. Bradford was one of the most decorated Jersey dairy cow breeders in the U.S., having been awarded several accolades over the years including the Master Breeder Award in 1997. He also was the recipient of the New England Green Pastures Award.

Not only was he a successful breeder, he had one of the top production herds from 1975 to 1990 for his herd size and won the Eastern Jersey Herd Production Award for 14 years. During the mid-1980s his herd was in the top 10 for milk and fat, regardless of herd size. This was all accomplished with his own breeding, having only purchased two animals.

He was also very involved in Turner town business, where he served as a Selectman for 27 years. He worked on various committees and was instrumental in getting the re-route of Route 4 in Turner. He was a longtime member of the Auburn Church of the Nazarene and had served on the budget and finance committee over the years.

He was a great steward of the land who appreciated everything nature had to offer. In 1973, he was recognized with the outstanding woodland program award for Androscoggin County Soil and Water District. He enjoyed hiking, hunting, bird watching, and just simply being outdoors.

He was a wonderful people person and had a great gift of connecting with others. He will be greatly missed by all of his family and friends and anyone who had the opportunity to know him.

Mr. Bradford is survived by his wife, Lynette of Turner; a step-daughter, Norma Graffam Boothby of Livermore; daughters, Suzanne Madden and her husband Timothy of Livermore, Leta Dinnean and her husband Paul of North Haven, CT and Laurel De Lige and her husband Kenji of Turner; two step-grandchildren, Clinton Boothby and his wife Susan of Livermore and Robert Boothby and his wife Denise of Livermore; grandchildren, Ashley Stephenson and her husband Thomas of Wayne, Parker Madden of Portland, Bethany Couch and her husband Nathan of Norway, Moriah, Joshua, Elizabeth and Daniel De Lige, all of Turner; two great-grandchildren; six step-great-grandchildren and four step-great-great-grandchildren; siblings, Wesley Bradford of Agawam, MA, Lester Bradford of Mt. Vernon, WA, Phillip “Kenny” Bradford of Cheshire, CT and Carolyn Williams of Topsham and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his first wife, Alice Myers Graffam on January 22, 1961, whom he married on September 11, 1948 and siblings, Elon and Robert Bradford, Helen Fitzgerald and Laurestine Drury.

Funeral services were held Tuesday, January 29, at the Auburn Church of the Nazarene, 38 Summer St. in Auburn with Pastors Richard Waller and Eric Larsen co-officiating. Family and friends called at the church on Monday evening and prior to the service on Tuesday. Interment will be in the spring at the Turner Village Cemetery.

Gifts in lieu of flowers may be given in his memory to the Children’s Camp Fund c/o the Auburn Church of the Nazarene. Arrangements are in the care of the Wiles Remembrance Center, 308 Franklin Rd., Jay. Words of condolence and tribute may be shared with Mr. Bradford's family and friends on his tribute wall at www.wilesrc.com.