In 1942, Warren graduated from Libbey High School in Toledo, and then began riveting bombers at the Willow Run Assembly Plant at the start of WW2 – work he loved, but the beginning of hearing problems which would plague him the rest of his life.
He enlisted and served with honor in US Army Air Corps, and was stationed in Ireland during WW2 where he was assigned to Engineering Airborne Photography and Timing for bomb sights in multiple aircraft.
Warren returned from the war and graduated from the University of Toledo with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He then reconnected with the love of his life, Margaret Schindler, his sweetheart from Libbey High. They married, and soon after he received his Professional Engineer (PE) license
At the start of his professional engineering career, he sold boilers/burners with “Old Man [Marsh] Willis” in downtown Detroit. He would count how many martinis Old Man Willis would drink for Lunch; once, he counted 19 martinis before the food was even served!
He then worked replacing stokers and manual feed boilers with packaged boilers with automatic controls. After Old Man Willis passed away, he started W.R Bradley Co. in 1953. He was proud to have his sons Mark and Todd join the company to continue in his stead despite their somewhat lesser love for boilers. Until his death, he still liked to talk boilers to anyone who would listen, especially Don Maahs; his other “adopted” son.
Flying was one of his passions; he earned his private pilot’s certificate subsequent to WW2 and owned several light aircraft. He also became enamored with motorhomes in 1966. He continued to enjoy these hobbies for the majority of his life, flying into his late 80s and touring the country intermittently in motorhomes into his mid-90s.
Above all, he was a devoted husband to Margaret, attentive father to his children, and diligent provider. He was an upstanding, principled man who will be missed by all who knew him.
Survived by Mark Bradley and Karen Suit, Todd and Patricia Bradley, granddaughters Anne and Tess Bradley, Daughter Kristine(Bradley) McKinnon (deceased) and John McKinnon and beloved nieces Diane Bennett and Susan Gunn.
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