Obituary for Wesley Cooper "Wes" Bradley
Wesley Cooper “Wes” Bradley was born on January 14, 1966 to Robert “Smo” Nance Bradley and Sandra Jones Bradley of Salem, Virginia. Wes attended North Cross School and was an athlete of distinction in soccer as an All Timesland sweeper back and football as an All Metro Tight End. He went on to attend Virginia Tech and graduated from Radford University with a bachelor’s degree in marketing & Finance. Wes joined The Bradley Company and University Housing Group to work with his father developing student housing across the country. Upon his father’s retirement, Wes took over operations as President of the companies.
Wes was a strong, complex, and generous man. He enjoyed a good political debate but was incredibly well-read and eloquent and thus a formidable opponent. He had a love of art and architecture and was a big fan of Mid-Century design and Frank Lloyd Wright, as well as Asian design and Japanese culture. Wes was trained in Filipino Martial Arts, specializing in Arnis and Pekiti tirsia, and became an extremely accomplished stick fighter, one of the best in the Valley and maybe the Commonwealth. He would credit his fighting partner Logan Doughty for this passion.
Wes loved music from a young age and playing guitar became his therapy. He was in a variety of rock bands over the years, starting with his high school band The Abdomen, and later the Trademarks, Oinker and Pandora’s Box. All these bands were a great source of pride and Wes loved all his bandmates as family. He had enviable collections of guitars and art and enjoyed concerts and museums on his travels.
Wes had friends across the country and around the globe, and was a devoted son and husband, adoring father and steadfast sibling. His love of animals ensured there were always dogs in the house, and he was a foodie who could whip up a mean waffle and an even tastier Boeuf de Noel. He loved cars as well, and always had something nice in the garage.
HIs heroes included Ron Swanson, Ayn Rand, Pete Townshend, Jonny Greenwood and Bruce Lee. He loved to read, listen to music, travel, debate and laugh with “his girls.” He will be sorely missed by all who knew him.
Most of all, Wes was a quietly generous man who would never turn down a friend in need. He rarely took any credit for the many gifts he gave his friends and family, who he loved unconditionally. His way, sometimes raw and mostly satirical sense of humor will be missed by all of us.
Wes’s life was dedicated to his loving wife, Melissa Brinkley Bradley (Missy,) and his beautiful daughter, Madeline Lizette Bradley (Maddy,) who survive him.
He is also survived by his parents, his stepmother Enola Mabry, of Roanoke, VA, his brother Robert F. Bradley and his wife Linda, of Jamestown, NC, his sister Lezlie B. Snyder and her daughters Olivia and Ava Snyder, of Roanoke, VA. his stepbrother Ian Anderson and his wife Kari Radasch and their two children; and his mother-in-law Kathy Brinkley. Wes also had many aunts, uncles and cousins that he adored.
A period visitation will be held at John M. Oakey & Son at 305 Roanoke Blvd., Salem Virginia on Tuesday April 30, 2019 from 6 to 8 pm. Memorial services to honor Wes's life will be held on Wednesday, May 1, 2019 at 11:00 am in the chapel of John M. Oakey & Son, Salem. Interment will follow at Sherwood Memorial Park also in Salem.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to Franklin County’s Planned Pethood & Humane Society, Angels of Assisi or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.
In the words of his favorite band The Pixies, “This monkey’s gone to heaven.”
Online condolences may be expressed at www.johnmoakey.com.
Wes was a strong, complex, and generous man. He enjoyed a good political debate but was incredibly well-read and eloquent and thus a formidable opponent. He had a love of art and architecture and was a big fan of Mid-Century design and Frank Lloyd Wright, as well as Asian design and Japanese culture. Wes was trained in Filipino Martial Arts, specializing in Arnis and Pekiti tirsia, and became an extremely accomplished stick fighter, one of the best in the Valley and maybe the Commonwealth. He would credit his fighting partner Logan Doughty for this passion.
Wes loved music from a young age and playing guitar became his therapy. He was in a variety of rock bands over the years, starting with his high school band The Abdomen, and later the Trademarks, Oinker and Pandora’s Box. All these bands were a great source of pride and Wes loved all his bandmates as family. He had enviable collections of guitars and art and enjoyed concerts and museums on his travels.
Wes had friends across the country and around the globe, and was a devoted son and husband, adoring father and steadfast sibling. His love of animals ensured there were always dogs in the house, and he was a foodie who could whip up a mean waffle and an even tastier Boeuf de Noel. He loved cars as well, and always had something nice in the garage.
HIs heroes included Ron Swanson, Ayn Rand, Pete Townshend, Jonny Greenwood and Bruce Lee. He loved to read, listen to music, travel, debate and laugh with “his girls.” He will be sorely missed by all who knew him.
Most of all, Wes was a quietly generous man who would never turn down a friend in need. He rarely took any credit for the many gifts he gave his friends and family, who he loved unconditionally. His way, sometimes raw and mostly satirical sense of humor will be missed by all of us.
Wes’s life was dedicated to his loving wife, Melissa Brinkley Bradley (Missy,) and his beautiful daughter, Madeline Lizette Bradley (Maddy,) who survive him.
He is also survived by his parents, his stepmother Enola Mabry, of Roanoke, VA, his brother Robert F. Bradley and his wife Linda, of Jamestown, NC, his sister Lezlie B. Snyder and her daughters Olivia and Ava Snyder, of Roanoke, VA. his stepbrother Ian Anderson and his wife Kari Radasch and their two children; and his mother-in-law Kathy Brinkley. Wes also had many aunts, uncles and cousins that he adored.
A period visitation will be held at John M. Oakey & Son at 305 Roanoke Blvd., Salem Virginia on Tuesday April 30, 2019 from 6 to 8 pm. Memorial services to honor Wes's life will be held on Wednesday, May 1, 2019 at 11:00 am in the chapel of John M. Oakey & Son, Salem. Interment will follow at Sherwood Memorial Park also in Salem.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to Franklin County’s Planned Pethood & Humane Society, Angels of Assisi or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.
In the words of his favorite band The Pixies, “This monkey’s gone to heaven.”
Online condolences may be expressed at www.johnmoakey.com.