- Date Of Birth: October 26, 1931
- Date Of Death: December 23, 2021
- State: Indiana
Pinky “Donita” Bradford-Stuck, 90, formerly of Elkhart passed away on December 23, 2021, at her home in Union, MI.
Pinky was born to Donita Binns and Irving Bradford on October 26, 1931, in Elkhart, IN. Her given name was Donita when she was born, and she was so pink her dad nicknamed her “Pinky.” Ninety years later, she is still called Pinky.
On June 20th, 1959, she married the man that had a love for dance and skating and made her laugh, Lowell “LC” Stuck. Together, they raised 3 daughters, Kimberley, Lynnette and Colleen.
Pinky is preceded in death by her parents, Donita Pierce and Irving Bradford; her wonderful stepdad, Leroy Pierce, her husband of 55 years, Lowell C. Stuck, brother, Charles Bradford and sister, Geralda Zitnik; great grandson, Jacob Patrick Kopczynski and many brother and sister in laws and nieces, nephews and friends.
Left to mourn her are her daughters, Kimberley Braniff (Tim) McConnell, Lynette (Michael) Stark and Colleen Pratt; grandchildren, Nicholas (Megan) Kopczynski of Niles, MI; Brooke Kopczynski and Joseph Braniff, both of Elkhart; Andrew Stark of Florida, Paige Stark (Joe Schultz) of Minnesota and Adam Moore (Selina Gebbnik) of Elkhart, Travis McConnell of Elkhart, Cameron Pratt of LaGrange and Danielle Pratt of Constantine; great grandchildren, Claire, Ethan, Amelia and Maizel Braniff of Mishawaka, Anastasia, Aleczander and Abigail Kopczynski of Niles, MI, Ellie Denny of Niles, Mi, Irene Morris of Elkhart, and Aubrey Stark Schultz of Minnesota; nephew, Anthony (Beth) Apanovitch of Ohio, sister-in-law, Karen Hornish and brother-in-law, Larry Brumbaugh.
Pinky grew up in Elkhart. She was a Depression era kid and a poodle skirt and saddle shoe teenager. Pinky loved to roller skate and dance. She attended Lincoln Elementary School and graduated from Elkhart High School in 1950 with honors. She was a member of Triple L, drama club, debate team and National Honor Society. She received a scholarship from Ball State in drama however chose to stay in Elkhart to help her family.
Pinky was a telephone operator for GTE and was promoted to long distance and international operator. She also was an operator at The Elkhart Telephone Answering Service for many years and worked for Dr. Greenlee’s office.
Pinky, LC and their daughters traveled throughout the United States and Canada. First in the camper LC made and then in a tent. The girls formed many great memories and funny stories from their trips. By the time grand kids went on vacation, they would all stay in hotels. LC and Pinky spent over 20 winters in Bradenton, FL.
Pinky was an avid reader and has read thousands of books throughout her life. She loved to journal, and she journaled from 1991 until she died. If anyone wanted to know what the weather was like on a specific day or what time the sun came up or set and what they had to eat just call mom, her journals contained a plethora of information.
Pinky was proud of her girls, grand kids and great grand kids; however, the girls think that she was most proud of the pool that her and LC had put in about 50 years ago.
Pinky was funny, helpful, caring, loving and what a work ethic she passed on to her girls and grandkids.
We would like to mention a few special friends, Bonnie Stein of Mishawaka, grade school friends, Flora Mae Phillips of Florida and Ruthie Westjohn of Elkhart, Tammy Lamb Tubbs (who was like a daughter to her), Holly Nelson, the librarian in Union, who knew that Pinky loved to read as well as friend, Mary McDonald of Mishawaka.
We wish we could name everyone who loved Pinky, but the list would be a mile long. All of us will miss her like crazy. We will miss her humor and wit, cooking and conversations and most of all her love.
To sum up her life, her favorite saying was, “Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln how did ya like the play?” We think she loved every minute of her life also known as “her play.”
“Rest in peace mom and we will all see you on the flip side.”
