Obituary of Elwood E. Bradish

Elwood Edward "Woody" Bradish, 96, of Lakewood, passed away May 29, 2018. Born September 10, 1921 in Jamestown, he was a lifelong area resident. Woody was very devoted to his parents and family as a young man, and then later to his wife and children. He was a graduate of Chautauqua High School. During World War II, Woody served faithfully in the U.S. Navy in the Pacific Theatre with Carrier Aircraft Service Unit #38 as an Aviation Machinist's Mate from 1942 to 1945. He was also a pitcher in the Navy Baseball League while based at the Naval Air Station in Hawaii. He was later recruited by the St. Louis Cardinals. After returning to Jamestown, Woody was employed by the Field & Wright Co., where he started as a carpet layer and worked his way up to become President of the company. He retired in 1981 after 37 years. Throughout his life, Woody was an avid sports fan. He was an enthusiastic supporter of local high school basketball teams and helped coach the Celoron Braves baseball team. He was also active in many organizations, such as the American Legion, Vikings Lodge, Lakewood Rod & Gun Club and the Chamber of Commerce. Woody was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, the former Shirley June Scott whom he married June 2, 1945 and who died April 6, 2002; as well as an infant son, two brothers, Lynn and Erlyn Bradish, and two sisters, Elaine Wood and June Wood. He is survived by four children, Jodell Petty of Elkhart, IN, Janice Oakes of Albuquerque, NM, Scott Bradish of Mayville, NY, and Christopher Bradish of Miami, FL; twelve grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday in the Lind Funeral Home. Woody's son-in-law, the Rev. Dan Oakes, will officiate. Burial will be in Sunset Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends from noon until 2 p.m. Thursday, for two hours prior to the service in the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Herman Kent Post #777 American Legion, 26 Jackson Ave., Jamestown, NY 14701.