Austin Seay Bridgforth III was born February 15, 1930 and died January 14 at Old Jefferson Community Care. A native of Kenbridge, Virginia, he graduated from Kenbridge High School, where he participated in all sports. He was a proud graduate of Virginia Military Institute, where in majored in civil engineering and was a registered engineer. While there, he participated in intramural collegiate sports. It is written in the yearbook "Austin has made a lasting impression on the institute". "We appreciated his humor and his gracious attitude toward the rest of his Brother Rats." In the fifties, he established the VMI South Side Social Club. Upon graduation from VMI, he was employed as a civil engineer at North Carolina Department of Highways and later for the city of Danville, Virginia. In 1958, he moved to Louisiana to work with family. He was assistant manager of Bulk Transport in Port Allen where he oversaw the purchase and maintenance of a fleet of 160 18-wheelers. He developed and implemented the safety program and purchase of the land and buildings for the construction of five terminals. While there, he designed a soil cement spreader for the trucks used in the construction of our present interstate highways. In 1973, he became the owner of Ditchwitch of South Louisiana. He was awarded the prestigious single dealership international award of excellence in 1988. Austin was an avid sportsman. He loved golf, hunting and fishing. He was proud of his five holes-in-one on the various golf courses he played. He loved his golf buddies: Bob Stewart, Tommy Thompson, Jimmy McCall, Buck Singletary and Bill Cocreham. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Baton Rouge Country Club, and Sons of the American Revolution. He was married for 64 years to Ernestine Gillen Bridgforth. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Mary Lillian Laufersweiler, his parents Mr. and Mrs. Austin Bridgforth, Jr and a sister, Kitty Sue (Mrs. Clyde Hooker) of Martinsville, Virginia. He is survived by his son-in-law, Steve Laufersweiler, three grandchildren, Lindsey Flinn and spouse Patrick of Chicago, Illinois, Austin Laufersweiler of Washington DC and Owen Laufersweiler of New York, New York, two great-grandchildren, John Austin and Aaron Flinn, and two nieces, Deborah Belanger of Shreveport and Katherine Boaz of Mont Vale, Virginia. Austin was always the epitome of the Virginia gentleman, but he loved Louisiana and living here. We would like to thank the staff at Old Jefferson Community Care for their compassionate care and Terry Washington of Clarity Hospice of Baton Rouge. Visitation will be held at First Presbyterian Church on Monday, March 7, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. until the memorial service at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to First Presbyterian Church at 763 North Blvd., Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70802.
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