Charles and Delores Radford Sr.

The children of Charles and Delores Radford Sr. — daughter Kathleen (Rick) Ellsworth of Missouri; sons Charles and William, both of Oklahoma; and daughter Colleen (Kyle) Hayes of California — would like to extend a heartfelt invitation to join them in a memorial internment service for their parents, Charles Sr., who passed away Feb. 4, 2021, and Delores who passed away on Oct. 24, 2013.

Charles was born Feb. 25,1933, in Putnam County. He was the only child of Leo and Bessie Dean Radford.

He graduated from New Ross High School and continued his education at Purdue University, which he cut short to join the U.S. Air Force. He served his country for four years. 

He married his wife Delores on April 25, 1954, in Tooele, Utah, where they met during his military service. After completing his service, Charles and Delores returned to New Ross to support the work of the family farm. In addition to working the family farm, he worked as a long-time employee in the greenhouse/nursery business, until he went out on his own as carpenter, roofer, builder, and jack-of-all-tradesman, for the community.

In his early years he enjoyed camping and fishing and supported the New Ross community as the Boy Scout Master of Troop 363. He enjoyed gardening, and sharing the fruits of his labor all throughout his life. 

Delores was born on Dec. 19, 1932, in Hancock County, Iowa, to Dr. Homer D. and Eva Grossman Cate.

She was an active member of the New Ross United Methodist Church. Charles lovingly said she was the mom to half the kids in New Ross. Sunday school, holiday cheer plates, Cub Scout Den Mother, 4-H, Easter eggs for the entire elementary school, waffles for the swim team — her loving kindness stretched far and wide throughout the county. 

She also worked for most of her last 20 years as an in-home health care giver for many neighborhood friends.

Charles and Delores spent nearly 60 years together, raised four children and were blessed with four grandchildren, Elizabeth (Ellsworth) Tummins, Cheryl (Ellsworth) Long and Luke and Levi Hayes; and seven great-grandchildren, Sam and Sadie Tummons, Adalyn, Benjamin, Caleb and Tyler Long and Liam Hayes. 

The family will be holding a graveside memorial internment service on Friday, June 4, at 3 p.m. in the New Ross Cemetery. Family and friends are invited to join them in remembrance, celebration, and the sharing of more fond memories like these.

Expressions of sympathy may be made in the form of a donation to the Walnut Township Volunteer Fire Department, 105 E State St, New Ross, IN 47968.