August 14, 1928 - April 16, 2023
The Alford family shares news of the heartbreaking loss of Curtis Bradford Alford. Curtis passed away on Sunday, April 16, 2023, in his Crystal, MN home at the age of 94.
Curtis was born the sixth of nine children on August 14, 1928, in Clearview, Oklahoma. He accepted Christ and was baptized as a young lad and educated in Clearview area schools.
During the Korean War, he was drafted and served for two years in the United States Army as a cook, mechanic, driver, and guard. Upon returning home, he made Minneapolis, Minnesota his hometown and worked for many years as a shift supervisor for the United States Postal Service until he retired.
Curtis was joined in marriage to Ruth E. Craig-Alford in 1953. The two were married for 45 years until her passing in 1999. To this union two children were born, Bradley and Arlys. He will be remembered by those who loved him for his gentle and kindhearted spirit.
Curtis loved listening to Blues music. He was also a big fan of baseball and found great joy in attending and taking his children to baseball games. His favorite team was the Minnesota Twins. As he grew older, he found solace in taking long walks and going to lunches with his children. Like so many in the Alford family, Curtis loved horses and had a special way with them. His eyes would sparkle when he would take his children for horseback rides as kids. “I have a feeling he is with the horses now running free”, his daughter, Arlys shared. “He would brush and braid my hair so gently, I only wanted my daddy to do it,” she recalled.
Curtis was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Ruth E. Craig-Alford; brothers Louis Milton Alford, Sr., George Alford, Chester Willie Alford, and Robert Lee Alford; and sisters Elizabeth Alford-Patton, Antonia Alford-Carter, and Zella Edwards-Elizenberry. He is survived by his son, Curtis Bradley Alford; daughter, Arlys Adelyn Alford; brother Warren Fred Alford; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
A virtual memorial will take place:
Monday, May 8, 2023
1:00pm CST
Link to the memorial service:
Services have been entrusted to:
Washburn-McReavy
Glen Haven Memorial Gardens
5125 West Broadway
Crystal, MN 55429
Curtis Bradford Alford is the son of the late James Willie Alford & Lydia Thibodeaux Alford; and grandson of Lafayette G. “Fate” Alford.