Marion "Rinkie" Patterson Bradbury, To her many, many friends, the family of Rinkie Bradbury are sad to say she passed away last Sunday morning. It was a full and rich life lived with friends and family. Born October 13, 1923 in Beaufort, S.C., Rinkie was 90 years old and was the widow of Lee Bradbury. Her husband was famous for playing Santa Claus to the children of Beaufort for nearly 40 years. Her parents were Charlotte "Biddie" Barnwell Patterson and Joseph Allen Patterson, Jr. She was a member of St. Helena Episcopal Church. Rink earned a Bachelor of Science degree from The University of South Carolina and graduate degrees from the Minnesota Graduate School. Her training as a pioneering X-Ray technician with DuPont Company of Wilmington, Delaware led to some interesting employment and introduced her to her beloved husband, Lee. Rink was very proud of becoming the second lab and x-ray technician at Beaufort Memorial Hospital and was very willing to share this information. This work later lead to an opportunity to join J. Edgar Hoover's fledgling FBI in Washington, DC as an Associate Director of Hair and Fabric Division. She knew her glues. As her friends know, Rinkie was a sports nut. If she played, she wanted to be the best. As the first female member of the South Carolina Bowling Hall of Fame and capable of bowling a perfect 300 game, she was formidable on the lanes. She was just as formidable on the river. Her ability to catch shrimp and fish led to many an embarrassed male angler around Beaufort with their meager catch. Whether it was golf, tennis, or basketball, she was a standout. As a senior she was voted Most Athletic. Not a bad prediction for the class of 1940 at Beaufort High. As Chairperson of Beaufort Crippled Children Society she helped establish the March of Dimes and Easter seals as a tradition in Beaufort. As the First Secretary of Beaufort County Higher Education Commission she was instrumental in bringing her Alma Mater to Beaufort. For those efforts her name is a permanent fixture on the cast mural at USCB on Boundary Street. Rinkie was the President of "La Sertoma Club". Predeceased in death by her husband, Lee Bradbury, brother, Joseph Allen "Skeet" Patterson III, niece, Sandra Patterson Watts. Rinkie's memory is survived by nephews Steve (Lynn), Allen (Julie), Merritt (Joan) and Russell (Libby) Patterson. She also leaves behind nine great nieces and nephews and even a great-great nephew. Who knows, maybe they too will be interesting people. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, February 12, 2014 from 5-7 p.m. at Anderson Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, February 13, 2014 at 4:00 p.m. in the Parish Church of St. Helena, with internment in St. Helena Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to CAPA, P.O. Box 531, Beaufort, SC 29901 or the Boys & Girls Club, P.O. Box 1482, Beaufort, SC 29901.

Published in The Island Packet from Feb. 12 to Mar. 12, 2014