May 21, 1932 — Jan. 15, 2019

Dorothy Bradford, 86, former area resident, died Jan. 15, 2019, in Springdale, Ark.

Funeral services took place Sunday, Jan. 20, at Pioneer Memorial Church on the campus of Andrews University, Berrien Springs, with burial in Rose Hill Cemetery. Online messages may be left at allredfuneralhome.com.

Dorothy was born May 21, 1932, in Rock County, Wisconsin, to William and LaVerne Antisdel. She grew up in Milton, Wisconsin, and was quite the athlete — always wearing a dress, but she could throw a ball “like a boy.” Early on, she proved to be an accomplished musician, playing the clarinet and having excellent piano skills. She graduated from Wisconsin Academy in 1950 in their first graduating class.

She graduated from Emmanuel Missionary College (now Andrews University) in 1954 with a B. A. in piano performance and elementary education and soon became a second-grade teacher at Redlands (California) Adventist Elementary School.

In 1959, she married Don Candy, and in 1963, they relocated to Berrien Springs where she balanced working as a piano teacher and raising her family. The marriage did not last, and in 1980, she became a single parent. In 1987, she found the love of her life, William Bradford. They enjoyed their 39-acre homestead in Dowagiac for 22 years before relocating in 2014 to Brevard, North Carolina, where they enjoyed a warmer climate and a smaller four-acre property.

In December, Dorothy suffered a series of falls while visiting Bill’s daughter, Janelle, and after hospitalization and hospice care, she fell asleep in Jesus on Jan. 15.

She is survived by her husband, Bill; children: Tom (Debbie), Sharon (Tim), Janelle (Philip), David (Michelle); 12 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and brother, Donald (Vera) Antisdel.