Ruth E Bradley

Ruth Elizabeth Bradley, 88, passed away on Saturday, October 7, 2017 at home in Riverside, CA surrounded by her family. She was diagnosed with cancer in June, and she put up a good fightshe was not one to give up easily on anything! Ruth was born to Paul W. Champlin and Ruby Campbell Champlin on June 24, 1929 in Des Moines, Iowa. She had an older sister, Doris, who passed away in 1987 and a younger brother, Paul Champlin II, who just passed away in June, 2017. Her father was a Major in the U.S. Army Cavalry so as a child they moved often each time he was promoted. He served in Italy during World War II, and passed away shortly after returning home in 1945, leaving Ruby to raise three children on a widows pension. She did an amazing job! Ruth graduated from Manual Arts High School in 1947 and then Sawyer Business College so she could help support the family. When she was still in high school a handsome Marine named Ted Bradley moved into the house next door. He took her to her Senior Prom, and they ended up getting married September 3, 1948, a marriage that lasted 57 years! They had two children, Karen Elaine and Gregory Edwin. They lived in Torrance, CA from 1953 until 1995. Ted was on the California Highway Patrol, and after both children were in school Ruth went to work for the Torrance Unified School District, starting as a secretary and then decided she wanted to go back to college and earn her teaching credential. She taught Business classes for many years, and retired as Department Chairman of the Business Department for Torrance Adult School. When Ted retired, they decided to move to Hemet, and made their home in Seven Hills Golf Resort. They loved it there, but because of Teds Parkinsons disease, had to move to Riverside in 2004 to be nearer his daughter and doctors. After he passed away in August of 2005, Ruth returned to Hemet to be near the many friends she had made there. She decided since there were so many widows and widowers who were lost without their spouses, she organized the Seven Hills Senior Singles club, and planned group activities and trips they could go on. It had over 50 members! Although she had to move back to Riverside in 2011 because of her failing eyesight, the club is still going strong. One of Ruths favorite things was traveling the world, especially numerous cruises to Hawaii and Alaska with friends and family. She also was interested in studying her ancestry, and did much research on the Champlin, Campbell, and Bradley families, and became a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. In 1998 she began an autobiography, Random Blessings, which was on her “bucket list” to finish and have printed, and it was completed earlier this year. On the final page, in her own words, she wrote: “I wont cry because its over; Ill smile because it happened!” Ruth is survived by her daughter, Karen Burkhalter, and son, Greg Bradley, both of Riverside, her grandson Jeremy Horn and granddaughter Amy Horn, and 2 great-grandsons, Travis and Jenson Horn. She also spoke weekly to her favorite cousin, Roger Campbell of Salem, Oregon. In lieu of flowers please send donations in Ruths honor to American Parkinsons Disease Association: www.apdawest.org or use link/address below: https://org2.salsalabs.com/o/5693/p/salsa/donation/common/public/?donate_page_KEY=14996 Visitation Location Not Available Tuesday 10/17, 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm Service Location Not Available Wednesday 10/18, 11:30 am Gregory Bradley's Home Wednesday 10/18, 2:30 pm Cemetery Riverside National Cemetery Staging Area #4 Thursday 1/1