It is with the deepest, deepest regrets that the Modena Fire Company announces the passing of past Fire Chief Mancil E.”Bill” Bradford Jr. on February 7, 2017.

Chief Bradford was a life member of the company. He served as Fire Chief from 1970 until 1976.

Chief Bradford was one of a few members that got the EMS system started in Modena. His Wife shared a memory with us of Bill driving everywhere in that ambulance back when the company offered routine services.

Bill’s wife Ruth and Daughter Kathie met with Chief Dowlin last evening and they had a chance to reflect on his time with the fire company. One story they told was about having a phone in their house that rang when someone called in a fire (just as 991 work today) they remembered answering that phone getting the location and the calling the paper mill to have them blow the siren, the location of the call would determine how many time the siren blow.

Chief Bradford was one of the founding Chiefs of the Chester County Fire Chiefs Association.

Chief Bradford services will be at 2pm. Saturday February 11, 2017 at the Harris Mountain Funeral Home located at 1030 E. Lincoln Hwy, Coatesville.

Visitation with family and friend will begin at 1pm.

Chief Bradford Obituary is below:

Mancil “Bill” E. Bradford, Jr., 90, of Modena died Tuesday, February 7, 2017 at Harrison House, Christiana.

He was the husband of Ruth Fuller Bradford with whom he shared 65 years of marriage.

Born in Modena, he was the son of the late Mancil E. and Alice McCorkle Bradford.

Mancil served in the U.S. Navy during World War II in the Pacific Theater abroad the USS Purdy that survived a kamikaze attack.
He worked for Modena Paper Company and then became the Postmaster in Modena until his retirement in 1985.

Mancil was a life member of the Modena Fire Company where he served as Fire Chief. He also served as President of the Modena Borough Council. He played baseball in the Modena league and was a Little league coach. Hunting at his cabin in Fulton County was another of his hobbies.

Surviving him, in addition to his wife, Ruth; is a daughter, Kathie Gaitens; three grandchildren, Heather Campbell, wife of Chris, Lesley Wilmont and Billy Wilmont, husband of Ashley; and two great granddaughters. He was preceded in death by a brother, a sister; and a daughter, Cheryl Wilmont in 2016.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, February 11, 2017 at the Harris Mountain Funeral & Cremation Service, 1030 E. Lincoln Highway, Coatesville where relatives and friends may call beginning at 1 p.m.

Interment will be in Hephzibah Cemetery, Coatesville, PA

In his memory, contributions may be made to Willow Tree Hospice, 616 E. Cypress St., Kennett Square, PA 19348 or The Alzheimers Association, 399 Market St., Suite 102, Philadelphia, PA 19106