Merrell Bradford Park

PARK - Merrell Bradford, 90, died Easter Sunday, March 23, 2008. Born December 3, 1917, in Elizabeth, NJ the oldest son of Chester Bradford and Cornelia (Merrell) Park. His family moved to Tulsa in 1925 from New York. He attended schools in Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Afton and graduated from Broken Arrow High School in May 1935. He attended the University of Tulsa and OSU Electrical Engineering School. He married Mary Ann Stockton on September 3, 1939 in First Presbyterian Church with his father officiating. He served in the Navy during WWII from 1941 until 1945. In 1948 Merrell began working for Bovaird Supply Company where he served as Secretary / Treasurer and sat on their Board of Directors. He retired from Bovaird after 28 years of service. Three years later he was recruited by the Petroleum Equipment Suppliers Association as the Tulsa Office Manager where he worked for 8 years. Merrell was a member of Southminster Presbyterian Church where he has served as an ordained Elder since he was 24 years old first serving at Westminster Presbyterian Church. Past Secretary of the Kiwanis Club of Tulsa, chaired the Texas-Oklahoma Kiwanis Club Convention in Tulsa in 1985, Key Club Advisor for Central High School, Kiwanis Club Man of the Year, received the George E. Hixson Fellow Award as well as the Legion of Honor Certificate for 35 years of service. Also served on the Board of Directors for the Y.M.C.A., the Tulsa Community Chest, the United Way. Survivors: his wife of 59 years, Mary Ann; brother: Chester T. Park of Tulsa; daughter: Lynda Sue Park Hillier of Stillwater, OK; son: Jerry Ross Park of Atlanta, GA; grandchildren: Susan Lynn Richmeier and her husband Mike of Garden City, KS, Robert Brian Hillier of Allen, Texas and his wife Jennifer; Jarrett Ross Park of New York City and Whit Park of Oklahoma City; great-grandchildren: Laura, Lindsey and Reid Richmeier of Garden City, KS. Memorial service will be 2 p.m., Friday, April 18th, 2008 at the Southminster Presbyterian Church. Memorials may be made to the Kiwanis Club of Tulsa Foundation, Tranquility Hospice, the American Cancer Society or Southminster Presbyterian. Ninde Funeral Directors, Brookside Chapel. 742-5556. www.ninde.com VIEW AND SIGN THE ONLINE GUEST BOOK: www.legacy.com/tulsaworld