PITTSBURG — David W. Bradfield, 56, of Pittsburg died at 4 a.m. Thursday, June 9, 2011, at the Kansas City Hospice Center in Kansas City, Mo., after a lingering illness.

He was born on Nov. 30, 1954, at Liberal to Carlos and Ruth Bradfield. He graduated from Parsons High School in 1972 and from Pittsburg State University in 1982.

He was a sergeant in the U.S. Army in the special forces division and was a green beret for six years. He also worked as a drug and alcohol counselor in Miami, Okla., as an air brush artist for 16 years at Miller’s Photography in Pittsburg, for the public works department in Olympia, Wash., for five years and at Etco in Girard before failing health.

He married DeeDee Knott in 1980, and they had a son, Darren, in 1982. They later divorced.

Survivors include a son, Darren Bradfield and his wife, Laura, of Atchison; two granddaughters, Lucy and Josie; his parents, Carols and Ruth Bradfield of Pittsburg; a sister, Vicki Horton and her husband, Dick, of Pittsburg; two nephews, Todd Horton and his wife, Anne, and their daughter, Kate, of Overland Park and Chris Horton of East Orange, N.J.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, John and Lucille Sprecher of Oswego and Mattie and Carlos Bradfield Sr. of Parsons.

Dave treated everyone with respect and liked everyone he met. He had a great sense of humor and loved pulling practical jokes. He loved to write poems about his family and friends. He liked fixing and working on things, a trait he learned as a child from his maternal grandfather.

According to his wishes, he will be cremated. The graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Oswego Cemetery with the Rev. Tom Heflin officiating. Derfelt Funeral Home of Oswego is in charge of arrangements.