James H. Bradley

James H Bradley 3/25/1929 - 2/15/2026

James (Jim) Bradley was born on 3/25/1929 to Raymond and Ruth (Balin) Bradley in Los Angeles CA. Jim attended Canoga Park High School where "he was the fastest guy on the track team." Because he was fast, he went to college at WSU to be on the football team, but assessing his size verses the size of others on the team, he opted out. He was a very proud Cougar though. While there, he joined the ROTC Airforce Program and married his first wife.

Shortly after graduating, he was sent to Pilot Training at Mathers AFB in Sacramento, CA. During that time period, they had two sons Raymond and Morgan. They soon divorced and Jim and his two sons moved to Okinawa Japan for several years.

Upon returning to the US, he met Marilyn Odiorne. They married in 1959. While living in Mountain Home AFB they had Clifford and Jennifer.

In 1965 he was sent overseas to Bien Hoa AFB near Saigon to support the Vietnam War. Jim flew many missions in his F-100 fighter jet. He also was a tree top flier (forward air control) in a single prop Cessna. While there, he was shot down in a F-100 with a photographer in the back seat. They were rescued from a rice paddy by a very brave Huey Helicopter Pilot.

In 1967 Jim received orders to move to Wethersfield AFB in England. They packed up all 6 of them and were off for "a jolly good time" abroad. They lived in England for 3 years. Jim would be gone for months on end, flying fighter jets on various missions around the world.

He wrapped up his 20 year career with the Air Force stationed at McChord AFB. They moved their family to Orting and that is where they stayed.

His next career was to work for Pierce College as an administrator in the McChord AFB branch. He worked there for 20 Years.

Jim loved Orting. He immersed himself in Orting's community, joining the Lions Club and The Eagles serving as Officers and chairing many events. He was involved in the Daffodil Festivities organizing yearly parades.

He cherished September Fishing Trips with his friends at Grizzly Riders.

Jim had a deep passion for hunting pheasants in Eastern Washington, fishing in the Puget Sound, clamming on Long Beach, or fly fishing on the Tilton River. He raised salmon in his back yard stream. For 47 years, 50,000 coho salmon were fed and nurtured by Jim, and then transported and released to many streams or creeks around the area. That is roughly 2,235,000 salmon altogether!!!!

Jim (husband, Dad, Grandpa, and Great Grandpa), was a very special man. He was respected and adored by his family and his community. He loved hard work and he loved having a lot of fun, often wrapping up parties with a few songs on his harmonica.

96 years, 11 months is difficult to put into a few paragraphs.

A book could be written.