Narromine News and Trangie Advocate (NSW : 1898 - 1956) Friday 30 October 193144775

OBITUARY.
MB. JOHN THOMAS BADFOBD.
In last issue the "News" published
the unwelcome information that Mr.
J. T. Radford, of "Hopefield," Mun-
gery, was In a critical condition in
Dubbo hospital, and the paper had
scarcely started to circulate on Sat-
urday morning when the dreaded
news came through to say that the
Last Call had sounded.
Tom Radford, one of Mungery's
most prominent men; good and gen-
erous friend, and a man hi every
sense of the word, had passed to the
Great Beyond. Athough expected, the
Bad news caused a deep mantle of
sorrow to envelop the town.
The late Mr. John Thomas Radford
came to Mungery about twenty years
ago, and took up "Hopefield," and he
resided there ever since. He was a
hard worker and battled gamely
against droughts, grasshoppers, bush
fires and other adversities that come
with monotonous regularity, the way
of the man on the land. In the worst
of times he always had a cheerful
smile and a happy word, and for that
reason bad an army of friends in
Narromine, Trangie, Tomlngley, Wy-
anga, and Peak Hill, In addition to his
own district Probably no man in
Narromine district was better known
that Tom Radford, and certainly
none was ever more respected by all
sections of the community. In every
walk of life he rang true, and Mun-
gery will sorely miss his help and
genial personality. He was secretary
for the Mungery Picnic Race Club and
Mungery Tennis dub, and it is going
to be hard for both clubs to find his
successor. For a long time he had
not enjoyed robust health, but nobody
thought death was so close. In fact
even after he went to the Dubbo hos-
pital about three weeks ago, his many
friends did not at first think that the
end was so near. He was only 53
years of age at the time of his death,
and for some time had suffered from
diabetes.
Sunday's colossal funeral was a
true indication of poor Tom's popu-
larity. In addition to Narromine
people, friends came from all adjacent
towns to pay their last respects to
the man whose friendship they all so
deeply valued, and his was the big-
gest funeral seen in Narromlne since
the burial of the late Mr. G. W. Bar-
low. The body was taken to St
Mary's Church of England, where the
Rev. K. D. Norman held service prior
to the hearse leaving for the ceme
tery. At the Church hundreds of
friends attended and standing room
could not be obtained. The Rev. Nor-
man also performed the last rites at
the graveside.
Sincere sympathy is extended to
his bereaved widow, three daughters
— Mrs Moodie [Moad] (Millthorpe), Mrs Mat-
thews (Narromlne), Miss Beatrice
Radford (Narromine); one son —
George (Narromlne); two brothers —
Percy (Mungery), Joseph ('The Al-
berts"); and eight sisters— Mrs Rees
(Boggabri), Mrs Cullum (Horsham,
Vic), Mrs Mellington (Rainbow,
Vic), Mrs Cook (Melbourne), Mrs
Klemm (Rainbow), Mrs Wallace
(West Australia), Mrs Balderson
("The Alberts" ), and Mrs Rintoul
(Melbourne).
Deceased was a member of Lodge
Narromlne, and was buried with full
Masonic honors, W.M. Bro. J. McCar
ron, assisted by V. Wor. Bro. E. H. J.
Stevenson, P.D.G.I.O.W., conducting
the service. Grand Lodge was repre-
sented at the funeral by Very Wor.
Bro. H. H. Armstrong, D.G.I.O.W.,
Very Wor. Bro. E. H. J Stevenson,
and Very Wor Bro. Howard (Peak
Hill) . Four members of Chapter Cas-
silis (Royal Arch Freemasonry), of
Peak Hill, of which deceased was also
a member, acted as pall-bearers. They
were Bros. W. Maker, J. J. Mclntyre,
A. Watts and C. Murray.
Deceased was aso a member of the
G.U.I.O.O.F., and that Lodge's ser-
vice at the graveside was conducted
by P.W.G. Bro. T. Tomlins. Many
beautiful wreaths were laid on the
casket.
Sorrow, deep and sincere, is felt for
Mrs Radford and relatives in their
great bereavement.