Charles Thomas “Tom” Bradshaw, 92, of Malvern, PA, passed away peacefully on June 16, 2022. He was born on February 6, 1930, in Norfolk, VA to Ila Mae (Byrum) Bradshaw and Darden Haywood Bradshaw. He was a 1948 graduate of Maury High School, where he met his lifelong love, Claudia Marie Hood, to whom he was happily married for 69 years. Tom was a loving and devoted father to his three children Mary Byrum (Barnett), Charles Thomas Jr. “Brad” and James Darden “Jim”.
Tom was among the first class in the country to earn a degree in Nuclear Engineering, graduating Magna Cum Laude from North Carolina State College in 1952. He served as a 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Army immediately after graduation and was on active duty for several years, being assigned to Ft. Monmouth in New Jersey and in the Pacific during the Korean War, involved in the test and evaluation of nuclear devices. He began his professional career as a Nuclear Engineer with Dupont and worked for several companies including Lockheed, General Electric, and Martin Marietta. Tom enjoyed a successful career, and among other things, developed nuclear power sources for satellites and other spacecraft, notably including the Apollo lunar experimental package. He retired in 1995. He was an avid woodworker, and a lifelong enthusiast of Big Band music. Tom regularly played Bridge and was a member of the First Baptist Church in Malvern where he served as Treasurer for over 25 years. Tom had a passion for gardening and for the Outer Banks, spending countless weeks with his extended family at his house in Duck, North Carolina.
Tom is survived by his beloved wife, Claudia Marie Hood, his children, Mary Byrum Barnett (Dave), Charles Thomas Jr. “Brad” (Pam), James Darden (Kelly), his seven grandchildren Robert Kehler, Rebecca Kehler, Ashley Kehler, Alex Bradshaw (Kaylan), Michael Bradshaw (Julia), Eden Bradshaw and Will Bradshaw, along with seven great grandchildren, Jack, Colin, Vivianna, Ryan, Toby, Eliza and Andrew. He is predeceased by his parents, Ila and Darden Bradshaw, sister, Florence Sellers and brother, Darden Bradshaw.
A celebration of his life is scheduled for August 9, 2022, at First Baptist Church in Malvern, PA. In lieu of flowers, those who would like to make a memorial donation may do so with his church or to the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org.