Obituary
MOSHER, BRADFORD OWEN Santee - Lt. (Ret.) Bradford Owen Mosher, who spent more than half a century keeping naval vessels operational during both wartime and peacetime, passed away December 17, 2008, after a long illness. He was 88. Bradford Mosher was born and raised in Somerville, near Boston, MA, on February 10, 1920. After graduating from Somerville High School in 1938, he enlisted in the Navy. He was serving on the destroyer USS Anderson on convoy duty in the North Atlantic when World War II began, but spent almost the entire war serving in the Pacific and virtually every major battle, Coral Sea, Midway, Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Aleutians and Leyte Gulf where the Anderson sustained one of the first Kamikazes hits. He later served during the Korean Conflict and Vietnam War before retiring in 1967 after 29 years. He became a warrant officer and later a lieutenant. He also was an instructor at several naval schools. During his naval service, he was awarded the Good Conduct, American Defense, American Campaign, European-African-Middle Eastern, Asiatic-Pacific WWII Victory, China Service, National Defense (two stars), Korean Service, United Nations, Philippine Liberation, Vietnam Service (three stars) medals. After his retirement, Lt. Mosher joined Civil Service and worked at the 32nd Street Naval Station in San Diego for over 20 years. His specialty at the Naval Sea Support Center, Pacific was on-board repair of marine engineering problems. According to a co-worker, "We always tell our friends the story about when he was sent to 'rescue' a submarine that was 'dead in the water.' He literally jumped from a 'Navy Seals Rigid Raft Boat' to the conning tower of a rolling submarine in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Of course, he fixed the problem and headed home! He was always personally asked for by the Admirals of the Navy because they knew that Brad Mosher was one of the 'can do' guys on reduction gears!" He was a 33rd Degree Scottish Rite Mason, a member of the Aloha Shriners in Honolulu since 1950, and a member of the Retired Warrant Officers Association. He was the only son of Loring Asbell Mosher and Vernah Pearl Owen. He is survived by his sisters, Velma Eileen True of Shasta Lake City, CA and Sylvia Hendricks of National City , CA; his daughter, Kathie Elizabeth Mosher of Temecula, CA and son, Bradford Owen Mosher II of La Mesa; nieces, Lynne Richards of Santa Clara, CA, Rhonda Kirkeby of Virginia, Sharon Baker of Apple Valley , CA, Joyce Sulanke of Boise , ID; nephews, Wayne Cope of Santa Clara, CA, David Cope of National City, Shelton Cope of Chula Vista, CA, Alan Toothaker of Tumwater, WA, and Jeff Toothaker of Boise, ID. He was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Kathryn, and sisters, Myrl Sieben of San Bruno, CA, and Vernah Toothaker of Boise, ID. Lt. (Ret.) Mosher lived in La Mesa for more than 40 years, and enjoyed traveling the world with family. He passed away on the 61st anniversary of his wedding on Guam. After cremation by La Mesa Erickson Anderson Chapel and Burial at sea, a Celebration of life will be held February 10, 2009. Family requests making donations to the Shriners Childrens Hospital. Dad, Aloha Ke Akua (May the peace and love of God be with you) your Ohana.
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1919 - 2008 (89 years)
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