Thomas O. Bradshaw

NEWPORT NEWS - Thomas O. Bradshaw, Jr., died May 12, 2014 in Williamsburg. He was the widower of Joan S. Bradshaw, who passed away in September 2004. Tom was born in Portsmouth where he began his career with the Portsmouth Star newspaper. He was instrumental in bringing FM radio to the Tidewater area and held positions at WLPM in Suffolk and WFOG in Norfolk as Program Director. He retired as Community Affairs and Public Relations Director at WVEC-TV and hosted "Conversation" which aired on Sunday afternoons. He also served on advisory boards for the Peninsula Salvation Army, Peninsula Mental Health Association, Contact Peninsula and Peninsula Agency on Aging. In recent years, his daughters never missed a chance to share that he had met several presidents, as well as interviewed Elvis Presley and sat down to eat with June Carter and Johnny Cash. He was an avid fisherman and voracious reader, enjoyed working in his yard, and was always up for a trip to one of his favorite restaurants. He had an encyclopedic memory of history, politics, and other human interests, and was a king of trivia or in his words, "full of worthless knowledge." He had a keen observation for the passing scene. He is survived by his daughter, Elizabeth Bradshaw Rowe and husband, Herbert; son, Thomas O. Bradshaw, III; daughter, Bonnie Bradshaw Lansing and husband, Craig; granddaughters, Shelli Rowe Robertson, Ashley Rowe MacFarland, Hollie Lansing Hess, Caitlin Lansing; and grandson, Thomas Bradshaw, IV. The family wishes to thank his neighbors in Newport News, the office of Dr. Allan Murphy, the staff of Envoy of Williamsburg, especially the kind and caring nurses of the Colonial Unit. A memorial service will be held Thursday, May 15 at 11:00 a.m. at Peninsula Funeral Home. A reception will follow at Warwick Memorial United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that expressions of sympathy be made to the Peninsula SPCA or Warwick Memorial United Methodist Church. Godspeed and may your soul feel the light and love that you brought to us here on earth.