Keith Emerson Bradway

Keith Emerson Bradway, age 98, passed away peacefully on the morning of Saturday, March 8, 2025, at Our Hospice of South Central Indiana in Columbus. He was a resident of Brown County.

Keith was born December 31, 1926, in Indianapolis to the late Donald and Nelle (Strode) Bradway. He was a 1944 graduate of Arsenal Technical High School in Indianapolis. Keith proudly served his country as a Lieutenant Junior Grade in the United States Navy Reserves. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Purdue University in 1948, followed by his master’s degree in the Science of Poly & Paper from Lawrence University in Appleton, WI, in 1950. Keith completed his PhD in 1953.

Keith had a distinguished career as a research scientist. He worked in various roles, including Assistant to the Research Director at Camp Corporation in Franklin, VA (1953-1956), Superintendent of Process Engineering at Union Camp Corporation in Franklin, VA (1956-1960), Superintendent of Process Control at Union Camp Corporation (1960-1962), and as a Research Scientist in Lawrenceville, NJ (1962-1980). He retired as a Senior Research Scientist in 1991. Keith was a renowned writer, with numerous articles published in professional journals, and he held several patents.

Keith was active in many organizations throughout his life, including serving as President of the Pine Knoll Civic Association in Lawrenceville, NJ (1977-1978), and being involved with WRAPS, the Brown County Community Choir, and the Widow/Widowers Group in Nashville. He was very instrumental in getting the Overlook on 135 in Bean Blossom cleared, so the beautiful view of the hills of Brown County could be restored back to its original purpose. 

Keith was a scratch golfer who won some amateur tournaments in Virginia. He played for over 60 years. He was a talented artist and poet, with a special fondness for poet Billy Collins. He was active in the Brown County Writer’s Group. He had a very good tenor voice, and he loved singing in Catholic Church choirs for more than 70 years. Even at the age of 98, he could remember the words and music to hundreds of old songs. He wrote a song about his lovely wife Rita’s chocolate chip cookies. He enjoyed playing Scrabble and card games with friends and family. He loved the outdoors and was especially fond of pruning and planting trees, and picking wild blackberries, often followed by troops of children. 

Keith’s ancestors Edward and Mary Bradway were Quakers who emigrated from London in 1677, buying 1000 acres of land and a house site in Fenwick, NJ (now Salem) from William Penn. Keith has strong ancestral connections to Indiana and Brown County, as John and Abigail Bradway moved to Indiana in 1816. His grandfather Franz Bradway was a telegraph operator along with maternal grandfather Daniel Price. Maternal ancestors Matthew and Mary (Everling) Redwine bought 40 acres on Hurdle Road in 1848. Keith’s father Donald (who served in both World War I and II) and aunts Pauline and Francis Bradway lived nearby in Fruitdale. They are buried at nearby Unity Cemetery, as are other relatives including Rita Bradway, Isaac Strode and Martha Redwine Strode. 

Keith was preceded in death by his loving wife, Rita D. (Godschalk) Bradway, who passed away on April 23, 2004. They were married on September 9, 1950, in Combined Locks, WI. He was also preceded by his siblings: Mary Lusher, Patricia Moriarity, Malcolm Bradway, and an infant brother.

He is survived by his children: Daniel (Linda) Bradway of Moscow, ID, Thomas (Jo) Bradway of Carey, NC, Patricia (Alfredo) Trevino of Lawrenceville, NJ, and Barbara (Mark Snyder) Bradway of Washington Crossing, PA. He is also survived by five grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren.

In keeping with Keith’s wishes, there will be no services. He will be cremated, and his remains have been entrusted to Meredith-Clark Funeral Home Cremation & Personalization Center in Morgantown.

Memorial contributions in Keith’s honor may be made to St. Agnes Catholic Church, 1008 McLary Road, Nashville, IN 47448. Expressions of sympathy and kindness can be shared online with the Bradway family at meredith-clark.com.

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