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Only five years away from Jeanette' side, the love of his earthly life and just shy of two years from saying goodbye to his sister Allene, Gerald was reunited with his "girls" and met his Savior Jesus Christ face to face on Saturday, December 16, 2017. Also there to greet him were his parents Claude and Nell, and a rich heritage of family and friends who shared his love of the Lord.
Gerald was born on May 20, 1926 with twin Allene Bradshaw in Memphis, Tennessee.
Gerald and his family moved "back home" in 1938 at the age of 12 and loved to tell about selling the "Stillwater News" as a budding entrepreneur on Pearl Harbor Day in 1941 and on other days with historic headlines for the newsprint. He was graduated from Stillwater High School in May 1944, and enlisted in the Army Air Corps along with fellow young Stillwater men, Winfrey Houston and Harold Bauman, all of whom became known as "City Fathers" of modern day Stillwater. Stationed in Germany with occupational forces following V-E Day, Gerald returned to Stillwater, finished his Business degree and graduated from Oklahoma A&M College in 1949.
His business career in Stillwater formally began upon graduation from OAMC when he joined the Henry Campbell Agency, a general insurance agency where his father Claude was already a successful life insurance representative. Gerald purchased the agency in 1953 and owned and operated it for 60 of its 83 years in existence. In 1956 he married Anna Jeanette Foster and enjoyed fifty-seven fabulous years with his soulmate.
As a young and engaged businessman in Stillwater, Gerald thrived on projects where vision and resources were needed. He and his father Claude were instrumental in the establishment of the Baptist Student Union on the Oklahoma State campus in 1965, which is still serving OSU students today. Bradshaw served the business community in a variety of leadership roles, including Chamber of Commerce board chairman, numerous committees as well as through the work of the Stillwater Industrial Authority and Payne County Economic Development board. Gerald was an integral part of recruiting Moore Business Forms, Swan Hose, National Standard, among others. Those original industrial sites have expanded dramatically and still provide Stillwater with consistent tax revenue and quality jobs in the community and county.
Other civic and community involvement include:
• Oklahoma Jaycees -
Oklahoma State President in 1955-56
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity, Mu
chapter. Honored in 2016 with the "Order of the Lion" distinguished alumnus
award.
• First Baptist Church – the youngest deacon to be ordained in
1957
• Eagle Heights Baptist Church – founding member
• Stillwater
American Legion – Post Commander
• Frontier Masonic Lodge #48 – 32nd
Degree Mason
• India Shrine Temple of Oklahoma City
• Stillwater
Board of Education – President
• Stillwater Lions Club – President
•
Stillwater Morning Kiwanis Club – member
• Oklahoma State University
Alumni Association - Distinguished Alumnus
• Independent Insurance Agents
of Oklahoma: Board of directors, numerous committees and leadership roles
for more than 5 decades.
• Stillwater Area Independent Insurance Agents
Association – President
As a longtime and very dear friend to Dr. Buel Staton, Gerald was privileged to honor Dr. Staton's memory by serving as the primary trustee of the Dr. Buel J. Staton Charitable and Humanitarian Trusts. Through the course of this service Gerald carefully reviewed, interviewed and chose beneficiaries of Dr. Staton's funds to begin, build and bolster many organizations who serve Stillwater with the same philanthropic focus of their benefactor. Gerald's thoughtful stewardship resulted in immeasurable support and growth of countless organizations in and around the Stillwater Community. Those gifts spurred untold exponential growth and a significant impact on the overall quality of life in the Stillwater area.
Gerald was a steadfast and gifted follower of Jesus Christ and used his gifts of leadership and administration faithfully by Jeanette's side serving at First Baptist Church and later at Eagle Heights Baptist Church in a variety of capacities. He enjoyed his classic car collection and found special joy in driving dignitaries in his 1931 Model A Roadster in OSU Homecoming parades or driving around town with friends in the rumble seat. Of all his activities in retirement, Gerald loved the time he and Jeanette spent as weekly servers in the lunchroom of Stillwater Christian School.
Father of three, Gerald modeled the importance of civic engagement, balanced with an unwavering and steadfast support of his family and friends. Known as "Poppy" first to twin grandchildren Adam and Katie, it also became how he often introduced himself to many, including new guests he greeted at Dave's annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade brunch in New York for the last 25 years. A man with many leadership titles to his credit none made him more proud than to be called "Poppy", "Dad" or "Honey". Gerald will be missed by many, including son David Bradshaw and eldest daughter Ann Bradshaw of Houston, daughter and son-in-law Sara and Steve Ray and their children Adam and Katie of Stillwater as well as countless extended family and friends.
Memorial gifts in lieu of flowers are encouraged to be given to the Stillwater Community Center Foundation, Stillwater Christian School, Stillwater Medical Center Foundation or the Foster-Bradshaw Family Scholarship at Oklahoma Baptist University
A celebration of Gerald's life will be held at Eagle Heights Baptist Church at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 21 with a reception following. Visitation will be on Tuesday, December 19, 2017 and Wednesday, December 20, 2017 from 9:00am to 8:00pm at the funeral home. Arrangements under the care of Dighton-Marler Funeral Home.
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