Rev. James Ernest Radford, 78, of Fenton, MO, died Monday, June 8, 2009, in Eldon, MO in a single-car accident. He was born January 13, 1931, in Hot Springs, AR., to James Edward and Amy Inez Radford. He had two sisters and one brother. His brother died as a child. Following the death of his father, during the Great Depression, he and his two sisters went to live at an orphanage in Hot Springs, AR. He married Eunice Lee Henderson on June 26, 1951 in Hampton, AR. After Eunice’s death in 1995, he married Edith Adelle Burnett on June 24, 2000. He graduated from Hampton High School in 1949 and later served in the United States Navy. He attended Central Bible College in Springfield, MO. He felt a calling to the ministry at the early age of 19 and spent 50 years in ministry in the Assemblies of God. His ministry took him to many parts of the United States such as CA, TX, MO, and ID. He lived for telling jokes and winning souls to Christ. He recently spoke of wanting to write a book and title it “From Orphanage to Parsonage”.

He is survived by his wife, Adelle, of Eldon, MO; his daughter and her husband, Dorinda and Andrew Fain of Anna, TX; his son, Michael Radford of Garland, TX; his daughter and her husband, Sherri and Barry Conroe of Flower Mound, TX; his daughter and her husband, Angie and Roy Giles of Garland, TX; and his daughter, Karen Jacobs of Postville, IA. He is also survived by 19 grandchildren: Bryndy, Nathan, Drew, Daniel, Chrystal, Chrystina, Cameron, Amanda, Lauren, Emily, Ryan, Whitnie, Jamie, Steven, Evan, Tovia, Eli, Uzi and Akiva; as well as his 4 great grandchildren: Alyssa, Javier, Joey, and Gracyn.

He was preceded in death by his father, James Edward in 1936; his mother, Amy, in 1966; his first wife, Eunice, in 1995; his sister, Mary Gladys, and his brother, John. Those who knew Rev. Radford knew that he was not afraid of death. He looked forward to Heaven and to seeing his family and friends that went before him.

A service will be held at 4:00 p.m.,Sunday, June 14, at the First Assembly of God, 2600 Hwy 82, Whitesboro, TX 76273. Rev. Dan Ross will officiate. Graveside service will be at Mt. Tabor Cemetery in Whitesboro, TX. Arrangements are with Meador Funeral Home in Whitesboro, TX.

 

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