EDNA S. TRAD
Edna S. Trad, longtime resident of Whidbey Island, died peacefully at home on Sunday, May 27, 2012, after a series of debilitating illnesses that rendered her housebound for six years. Today, she is free.
With her at the end were her sons, Tom and Tim Dixon; her daughter, Amy Grassman and two of her grandchildren, Cody and Alex Grassman, all of Oak Harbor. She is also survived by her sons Robert Bradford of Toms River, NJ and James Bradford of Oakhurst, NJ; two sisters, Grace King and Beatrice Rockhill of Williamsburg, VA; nine grandchildren; one great-grandchild and scores of nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her three husbands: Merle Dixon, James Bradford and Robert Trad, and by her youngest daughter, Shari Bradford Thomasson.
The youngest of twelve, Edna was born inNewark, NJ in January 1935, spending most of her formative years in and around Belmar, NJ, where she graduated from Manasquan High School in 1953. She then married Merle Dixon and started her family. During her lifetime Edna traveled a great deal and spent many years living alternately in California, Florida and New Jersey. She was a homemaker at heart who worked only to provide income. She retired from the Bell Telephone Company after 24 years of service in 1994 and settled on Whidbey Island, never growing tired of its rugged topography and moderate climate.
Until she became ill, the things that brought her joy were gardening, sewing and crafting and traveling the country with her husband in their converted Chevy van. She was active in the Coupeville United Methodist Church for several years, participating in various fundraisers and outreach programs until she left for an extended stay in Germany at the invitation of her youngest daughter. Among her fondest memories were those of the months she spent touring Europe, but she was happy to come home, declaring that of all the foreign countries she visited, none could compare with the United States.
Edna will be laid to rest at Sunnyside Cemetery, next to her beloved daughter. Family and friends are encouraged to share memories and condolences at www.whidbeymemorial.com.

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