Paul Cullen Bradford, the father of Barbara Bradford Eschbach, ASURA board member and chair of Luncheons and Special Events Committee, passed away on April 17, 2015 at the age of 91.  Paul attended the University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign) for two years and then joined the U.S. Army where he served from 1943 to 1946. He received numerous honors including a World War II Medal, Bronze Star (European Theatre), Good Conduct Medal, and Combat Infantry.  He had Marksman Designation with rifle and carbine. After his discharge in 1946, Paul returned to the University of Illinois and graduated in 1948 with a degree in Chemical Engineering. For 38 years he worked with Shell Oil Company. His assignments were both in operations supervision and technical capacities in several refinery locations and Head Office Manufacturing.  He developed particular expertise in the catalytic cracking process and was recognized as an expert in the field. He also developed a process using centrifugal force that improved the output of usable/saleable product from a 55-gallon barrel of crude from approximately 50 percent to over 90 percent. This invention literally changed the world’s economy with respect to the oil industry. When Paul retired from Shell in 1986, he and his wife, Jean, moved from Houston to Leisure World in Mesa. Jean passed away in 1995. They had been married for 48 years. After Jean’s death, Paul became acquainted with another Leisure World resident, Betty, who was a widow, and they married in 1996. In 2005, Paul and Betty moved from Leisure World to Friendship Village Tempe. Paul is survived by his wife, Betty, his three children, Betty’s three children, eight grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. Paul’s Celebration of Life service will be Saturday, July 4, 2015 at 10:30am, in the Skirm Auditorium of Friendship Village Tempe, 2645 E Southern Avenue, Tempe AZ 85282. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in honor of Paul Cullen Bradford be made to Hospice of the Valley, 1510 E. Flower Street, Phoenix AZ 85014-5656. Condolences to the family may be left at http://www.azlegacyfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Paul-Bradford-2/

(Source: Barbara Bradford Eschbach)