Frederick Lee Bradford

Dr. Frederick Lee Bradford DDS, age 89, of Las Vegas, NV passed away peacefully on Friday, November 10, 2023. Doc Bradford was born on May 23, 1934, in Baldwin, MI, the son of Fred I. and Vi N. Bradford.

After graduating from Benzonia High School in 1952, he completed his undergraduate degree at Western Michigan University in 1956, and dental school at the University of Michigan in 1960. He then served as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy stationed at the USMC Recruit Depot in San Diego, the USMC Air Station in Iwakuni, Japan, and the USN Training Center in Great Lakes, IL.

He moved to Mt. Pleasant, MI in 1963 and in 1966 opened his own dental practice on Summerton Road where he worked for the next 33 years. Doc was also named to the Isabella Bank Board of Directors in 1974 and retired as Chairman in 2004. In “retirement” he ran his beloved Rising Spirits Shooting School in Bozeman, MT as a top-rated firearms instructor and sporting clays competitor. He was the team dentist for Central Michigan University, a farm and little league baseball coach, a leader with the Boy Scouts, a private pilot, vintage car enthusiast, and avid fly fisherman/archer/hunter/golfer.

Most importantly, he was a wonderful man. Loved and respected by his family, those he worked with, and amongst the countless lives he touched. A generous heart, strong character, and an unceasing sense of humor. He will be deeply missed.

He is preceded in passing by his former wife Haruyo “Yoshiko” Bradford, dad Fred, mom Violet, sister Nola, and niece Kelly.

He is survived by sons Fred and Mike; Fred’s wife Dani and their three children, Arrick, Fred IV and Sachiko; nephews Brad and Andy Bennett.