Ernest Edward Bradley

On Monday, January 2, 2017, Ernest Edward Bradley III,  "Tubby," was surrounded by his wife Lola and family as he crossed over. Tubby was like an M&M, hard on the outside and soft on the inside. He loved his tasteless jokes and cheap sparkling wine, and he was a champion for nature and animals. That love of nature and animals started in Madison Florida where he was born in 1930. He was a prolific fisherman, a hunter, a lover of dogs and chickens. He was the pack leader in charge of his family's hunting dogs as well as a dog walker at the greyhound racetrack. His love of the water brought him to Daytona Beach where he became a lifeguard. In 1951, he joined the Marines where his hunting skills came into play. He was able to hit the center mass (bull's eye) and became an expert on the rifle range and an instructor. However, taking orders was not always his strong suit: while on a Naval ship he pushed a button that said "do not touch," shutting down the entire ship for 24 hours. He left the military shortly after with an honorable discharge and less rank. Tubby worked in the government for 30 years. His tenacity came into play as he worked his way up from a grade 5 to a grade 15 and then Senior Executive Service. In 1971, he moved to Northern Virginia to help start the audit department of the brand new Environmental Protection Agency. He was selected as the number 2 person in the auditing department. He was known to be good under pressure with a good sense of humor, keeping things light when the going got rough. He retired from the Federal Government in 1990. While in Lucketts, Va., Tubby expanded his animal kingdom to a variety of barnyard pets…horses, cows, dogs, chickens, and cats. In 2005, he, Lola, and Jack Russell Traveller (his favorite son) moved to Fincastle where he continued his love of nature and animals. Please raise a glass of sparkling wine and send Tubby off with a toast as he walks the green fields with all his beloved pets. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Angels of Assisi in Roanoke, Va. http://www.angelsofassisi.org. Services will be private. Online condolences may be made at www.botetourtfuneralhome.com