Peter Charles Kinghorn Bradley

Peter Charles Kinghorn Bradley of Baytown, Texas passed from this life into the next on July 11, 2015 after a struggle with pancreatic cancer. Peter was born on February 16, 1948, to Louis Earl and Sheila Agnes Kinghorn Bradley, in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. He was preceded in death by his parents and son, William Louis Bradley. He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Nedra Ann Banister Bradley, daughter Alison Anne Bradley Velez and husband Peter, grandsons, Erik William Velez and Owen Bradley Velez, brothers, David Bradley and wife Becky, Paul Bradley and wife Tina, sister, Mary Taylor and husband Wilson, nephews, nieces, and their spouses and children.

Peter spent his youth in suburbs of Ft. Worth, Texas, River Oaks, and later Hurst. There he graduated from Bell High School. From 1965 through 1971 he attended Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. He graduated with a BA in psychology. Two important events occurred during this period. First he learned to program computers using the Fortran language on punched paper cards. Second, and more significantly, he met and married his wife, Nedra. From 1971 through 1974 he attended Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio. He received an MA degree in experimental psychology. During his time at Bowling Green, he spent many hours in the laboratory designing and building equipment, and programming computers to conduct experiments in human memory.

In 1975, Peter began work as a research technician in the analytical chemistry laboratories at Exxon Research and Engineering in Baytown, Texas. At first he worked in mass spectrometry, but in 1979 he was promoted to research technologist and assigned to install and support the new computer automated laboratory system (CALS) because of his training and experience in computing. This was an exciting time for Peter. The new assignment encompassed every aspect of the new computer system from pulling data cables through the overhead, to administering contracts for vendor support, to designing and coding additional software to expand the capabilities of the new system. The software that Peter wrote included an event scheduler that was contributed to a library of user written software for the new system. The event scheduler filled a significant gap and was soon in use on many similar systems worldwide.

From 1979 through 1990 Peter also attended the University of Houston at Clear Lake. There he received an MS degree in computer science.

In 1986, Peter transferred to Exxon Chemical and began a long association with the Baytown Chemical Plant Laboratories.

In 1995, Peter transferred to ExxonMobil Global Information Services.

Peter retired from ExxonMobil Information Technology in 2007. After retirement, he was a software validation consultant to ExxonMobil Baytown laboratories in 2008 and 2009.

Peter was an assistant coach and scorekeeper for Little League and Pony League baseball teams for many years. He also served as the registrar for the Baytown Saints Youth Soccer Club for several years.

Peter enjoyed cars, old and new. He owned a 2003 Volkswagen GTI 20th Anniversary Edition. He also owned a 1969 Volvo 1800S and was a member of the Volvo Club of America and Volvo Sports America.

Peter was a lifelong amateur singer. As a youth he sang in school choirs and musical productions, a folk music group, and the St. Philip Presbyterian Church choir, in Hurst Texas. He appeared on stage in several Baytown Junior Forum Red Stocking Reviews in the 1980's and 1990's. He was a longtime member of the Baytown Community Chorus and served on the chorus board in various capacities, most recently as president. In recent years, he also was a member of the Houston Cecilia Chamber Choir. He studied voice with Susanna Moorman, Michael Vaughn, Dr. Cassandra Black, and Brian Schircliffe. He was a member of Faith Presbyterian Church and sang in the Chancel Choir for many years.

In lieu of flowers, friends and family may send contributions to the Educational Wing Enhancement Project or the building fund at Faith Presbyterian Church, Baytown, Texas.

A memorial service will be held Monday, July 13, 2015, at 12 Noon at Faith Presbyterian Church, 3900 N. Main St., Baytown, TX 77521 with Rev. Jim Gill officiating.

To view the online obituary or to post a tribute for the family, go to www.navarrefuneralhome.com

Arrangements are under the direction and personal care of Navarre Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 2444 Rollingbrook Dr., Baytown, TX, 77521 (281) 422-8111.