JOHN A. BRADSHAW III

1934 - 2011

John A. Bradshaw III

CRISFIELD — John A. Bradshaw III., 76, of Crisfield died Sunday, March 20, 2011, at Alice Byrd Tawes Nursing Home in Crisfield.

Born in Crisfield on Nov. 10, 1934, he was a son of the late John A. Bradshaw Jr., who died in 1972, and Yvonne B. Pruitt Sterling, who died in 1997.

A graduate of Crisfield High School class of 1952, he was the division manager for the former Eastern Shore Oil Co. and the Delmarva Oil Co.

He later retired from Tawes Brothers Oil Co. in 1996. He was also the owner of the former Somerset Memorials, and was a former Maryland State Trooper. In addition, he was the president of Sunnyridge Memorial Park, which was very important to him. He was a U.S. Army veteran and a life member of Crisfield Elks Lodge 1044. He loved spending time with his family and enjoyed playing cards.

He is survived by his wife of almost 57 years, Dottie Byrd Bradshaw of Crisfield; a daughter, Jonna Lynne Bradshaw of Crisfield; a son, James Melvin "Jamie" Bradshaw and his wife, Teresa, of Chesapeake, Va.; four grandchildren, Ryan James Bradshaw of Virginia Beach, Va., Jacob Aaron Bradshaw of Crisfield, Amberlyn Cecelia Bradshaw of Chesapeake and Jordan Glenn Bradshaw of Chesapeake; a niece, Dawn Baynard Shields and her husband, Tim, of Smyrna; his cousins, Betty Bradshaw, Robert Bradshaw Jr., Patti Marshall and Steve Bradshaw, and their families.

Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by his stepfather, John "Nelson" Sterling, who died in 2001; his first cousin, Robert H. Bradshaw Sr., who died in 2004; and his sister-in-law, Lynne Baynard, who died in 2009.

Funeral services will be Thursday at 2 p.m. at Bradshaw & Sons Funeral Home in Crisfield, where friends may call one hour prior. The Rev. Bob Daniels will officiate. Interment with military honors will be in Sunnyridge Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are requested to be sent to Alice Byrd Tawes Nursing Home, Activities Fund, 201 Hall Highway; or Mount Pleasant U.M. Church, 39 W. Main St., both Crisfield, Md. 21817.

To send condolences, please visit www.bradshawandsonsfuneralhome.com.