Rickey Steven Bradford (Rick) was born on April 26, 1953, in Blackwell, OK, to Jack and Darlene (Stephenson) Bradford. He was the older brother of sisters Connie and Karen. From Blackwell, the family moved to Lindsay, then to Norman, and finally to Oklahoma City.

In 1971, he graduated from U.S. Grant High School in Oklahoma City, where he played clarinet and served as the drum major in the band. It was in high school that he accepted God's calling into ministry. He attended Bethany Nazarene College (now Southern Nazarene University). While at Bethany, he met Debbie Parker. They married in 1974, and their union brought two children, Stephanie and Jeremy.

Over the years, Rick pastored several churches in Texas and Oklahoma. Although he later transitioned away from full-time ministry, he never lost his faith or his heart for others. He loved engaging in conversation about the Bible and the many times he had seen the Lord work miracles in his life and in the lives of those to whom he ministered. It was this heart for ministry that led him to spend more than 10 years in Africa.

Vocationally, he could best be described as an entrepreneur. He had a vision for creating the Christian Cable Radio Network but was simply ahead of his time. It was the same technology that Sirius and XM would eventually use. He was an award-winning manager of both corporate and franchise Radio Shack stores before starting Bradford Communications, a DirecTV dealership based in Claremore, OK. He worked for a short time for a Tulsa-based mineral company that sent him to various countries in Africa. However, his heart for ministry kept him there long after his job ended. He found a solution to provide affordable housing for the people of Nigeria, but his time there was cut short by health complications. He returned to the U.S. in 2015 and settled in Wichita under the watchful eye of his daughter Stephanie and son-in-law Zak, both physicians. In Wichita, the entrepreneurial bug struck again, and he acquired Tornado Transit, providing private car service for business and military leaders, as well as visiting celebrities.

Rick had many interests over the years. He enjoyed fishing, tinkering with electronics, and developing computer programs. He always enjoyed watching sports, especially OU football. He also loved movies and had a particular fondness for romantic comedies and, yes, Hallmark movies.

Rick was welcomed home into the loving arms of his Savior on February 11, 2026. He passed peacefully with his two children, Stephanie and Jeremy, by his side. He was greeted by his parents, Jack and Darlene, who preceded him in death. He is survived by his daughter, Stephanie Kuhlmann and son-in-law Zak of Andover, KS; son Jeremy Bradford of Fort Worth, TX; granddaughters Claire and Parker Kuhlmann of Andover, KS; sister Connie Friesen of Kilgore, TX; and sister Karen Moseley of Oklahoma City.

The family wishes to thank Ultra Care Home Plus, Phoenix Home Care & Hospice, and House Call Medical Services for the care they provided him in the final days of his life.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, February 15th, from 2:00P.M. to 4:00P.M. at Heritage Funeral Home in Andover, KS. A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Monday, February 16, at at 1:00P.M. Power House Church in Stillwell, OK. He will be laid to rest next to his parents at Reece Cemetery in Adair County, OK.