The 1976 and SCWBA’s first inductee into the Hall of Famefor Bowling Achievement is Mrs. Lee Marian “Rinkie” Bradbury. Rinkie is a resident of Beaufort and a member of the Beaufort WBA. She has bowled in sanctioned leagues for 13 years, and currently bowls in 4 leagues.
Rinkie’s bowling backgound is quite varied, and she has had many periods of triumph. Her all time career highs were an average of 188, which was an all time high for S.C. in 1973, a high game of 266, and a high 3 game series of 691, which also won her a state award.
She has carried the following averages: 177 in 1970-71; 182 in 1971-1972; 188 in 1973-1974; 184 in 1974-1975; and her current average is 185.
Championships to her credit are many: Beaufort All Events Champion in 1967; Doubles in 1967; and Team Champion in 1968. SCWBA State Scratch Team 1968; 600 Club Champion 1965; Bowler’s Journal Tournament, Rochester, N.Y. 1st Place 1967; Coastal Empire Team Champion 1968; All Events Champion Handicap 1966, 1968 and 1969; Coastal Empire Tournament of Champions Singles 1968; Doubles Scratch and Handicap 1968; Singles 1968; Mixed Team 1972; Lions Club Team, Mixed Doubles, Singles Championships 1969; Mixed Doubles 1971; Mixed Team, Ladies Team 1971; Mixed Team 1968; Heart Fund Champion 1972; Water Festival Team and Doubles Champion 1967 and 1968; Greensboro , N.C. Team Champion Scratch and Handicap 1969 and Doubles 1969.
League Championships won have been: TAMBL, 7 time winner; Monday A.M. League 4 times winner; Thursday Night Civic League 6 times winner; Monday Night Scratch DBLS. 2 times winner; Wed. Night Scratch 1 time winner; Tues.night and Teachers Leagues 1 time winner. All of these championships in league play have been in the past ten years. She has bowled in 13 local tournament, 13 state tournaments, and 7 National Tournaments and some 63 others. Rinkie is a past president of the Beaufort WBA and is currently on the Beaufort WBA Board of Directors. She is also a member of the professional Women Bowlers Association.
Rinkie’s talent and bowling ability seem to be endless and one would wonder how many days or night she has left in a week. Aside from being an avid bowler she apparently does well with those woods and clubs on the Greens. She also has several golf championships to her credit.
Just from the summary of her bowling career it seems there would be little time for much else, but not so with this lady. In her active life she finds a way to give so much of herself to others, as well. She has been a very active person in her community, and I’m sure they all love her dearly. She has been secretary for the Beaufort County Higher Education Commission, on the Board of Directors for the United Fund, Beaufort County Crippled Children’s Chairman for 15 years, past President of the La Sertoma Club, and a Red Cross Volunteer.
Rinkie, we are pleased and honored to have you as the very first inductee in the South Carolina Women’s Bowling Association’s Hall of Fame for Bowling Achievement. Your bowling achievements have shown outstanding ability and performance. Your accomplishments as a bowler have been a credit to the game of bowling and to our organization.
Marion Bradbury Obituary
October 13, 1923 – February 9, 2014
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.
Provided by Anderson Funeral Home Beaufort, SC
