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Ervil E. Bradfield, 93, died Wednesday, April 26, 2017 at Garden Valley Retirement Village in Garden City. Born November 12, 1923 in Greensburg, Kansas to Henry Bradfield and Myrtle (Algrim) Bradfield. Ervil’s family moved to Garden City during the tough years of the 1930’s. As a teen with one year of high school, he moved to San Francisco for work. There he enlisted in the military in 1942 and served as a Sergeant in the 211th Army Air Force Base Unit in Great Britain during World War II. After his discharge he returned to Garden City, found work at Smith Bakery, and married Lucille (Kitch), the prettiest girl in town. The two were wed on March 15, 1946 in Garden City, Kansas; she passed away May 27, 2008.
He then began working as a carpenter by day with frequent night shifts at the sugar beet factory. He later worked for Southwest Carpet and Tile, ultimately leaving to start his own business in the early 1960’s. He was a hands-on building contractor, and his Bradfield Construction Company built more than a hundred homes in Garden City and the surrounding area. He often said he missed the days when everything it took to build a house could be done on a promise and a handshake, and throughout his life he took pains to maintain the reputation of a man whose promise and handshake were a complete guarantee.
He loved his family and was always there for them, sharing their good times and supporting them every way he could when they needed it. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church. He loved being a grandpa and great-grandpa. He was proud of his military service in WWII; he often said, “They took a boy and sent back a man”. He was also proud of the homes he built, both for the quality of his work and for his contribution to his hometown’s growth. After retiring from his construction business, he enjoyed gardening and woodworking projects in his shop. For years, he gave produce from his vegetable garden to family, neighbors, friends, Emmaus House- just about anyone who wanted to share his yearly bounty. And through those years, he’d be found most Fridays having lunch at Traditions with members of his family. He enjoyed the old diner/ malt-shop atmosphere and the old friends he met there regularly.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, daughter-LeAnn Bradfield, brother- Henry Bradfield Jr., and three sisters- Lois Bradfield, Marlene Baier, and Norma Jean Heinlen. Survivors include two sons, Larry and Holly Bradfield of Sherwood, Arkansas, Greg and Melissa Bradfield of Greeley, Colorado, a daughter Lori and George Hopkins of Garden City, Kansas, a brother Leroy and Alyce Bradfield of La Vista, Nebraska, seven grandchildren and three great- grandchildren.
A memorial service will take place on Saturday May 20, 2017, 10:30 A.M. at the First United Methodist Church in Garden City, Kansas. Interment will follow at Valley View Cemetery also of Garden City, Kansas with military rites conducted by American Legion District 8 Honor Guard and Kansas Army National Guard Honor Guard. Memorials may be given to the Kansas Honor Flight In Care of Garnand Funeral Home, 412 North 7th Street, Garden City, Kansas 67846. Condolences may be posted by visiting www.garnandfuneralhomes.com