Major Carl D. Bridges Jr., USAF Retired, 95, of Conroe, Texas passed away on November 15, 2019. He was born in Grapeland, Texas on June 26, 1924 to Carl Bridges and Bessie Lee Smith Bridges. He was a 1941 graduate of Grapeland High School and a long-time member of First Methodist Church in Conroe, Texas. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, great-great grandfather, brother and friend.
He was preceded in death by beloved family members; parents, Carl and Bessie Bridges; wives, Loyce Neel Bridges and Joyce Fuller Bridges; and daughter-in-law, Marty Tatum.
He is survived by his son, Captain Gary C. Bridges USAR retired; daughter, Donna Arthur and husband Doug; grandchildren, Hayley Hill, Tim Arthur and wife Joy, Jeremy Arthur, Lieutenant Colonel Robert Todd Bridges USAF retired and wife Amanda, Nicholas Bridges and wife Raquel, Clare Weeks and husband Wayne and Crystal Yarbrough and husband Reuel; great-grandchildren, Paige Arthur, Dylan Gates, Brynn Shorkey and husband Stephen, Macey Hawthorne and husband Charlie, Carly Cummings, Addison Bridges, Reagan Bridges, Ryan Arthur, Thomas Bridges, Emma Bridges, and Ari Bridges; great-great-grandchildren, Jaxon Ingram and Major Shorkey; two sisters, Marjorie Crabb and Francis Hummel and many nieces and nephews.
The following is an excerpt from his autobiography Never Alone.
“Carl D. Bridges, Jr., born during the Great Depression, came from a long family lineage built on tenacity and hard work. At age 13 he helped his dad repair cars in his auto shop, was hired to dig ditches at 14, and ran his grandfather’s ice house at only 15 years old. All this in preparation for the two biggest jobs he would ever have, starting a career in the military and raising a family. Carl served his country for 20 years, retiring as a major in the United States Air Force, and creating a love for military service in his family by his son Gary and grandson, Robert.
While in the Air Force, Carl developed a love for flying. He flew his first plane, a Stearman Biplane, at 19 and completed B-24 Bomber training at the age of 20. Carl continued to fly in the military and in business for the next 40 years.
He married his high school sweetheart, Loyce Neel Bridges, in a double wedding ceremony with her identical twin sister, Joyce, and his childhood friend, Jimmy Fuller in 1944. Carl and Loyce had two children, Gary and Donna, and were married for 62 years.”
He and the family would like to offer a special thanks to the hospice personnel and the staff at Heritage Oaks and Woodhaven Village for their exceptional care and support, and to Maurice McClain, who became a wonderful friend and spent a lot of time with him. Our thanks also to Deck Yates and Maurice for their support and assistance with the writing and publishing of Never Alone, the story of his life.
Visitation will be on Thursday, November 21, 2019 at Cashner Funeral Home in Conroe, Texas from 1:00pm to 2:00pm with the funeral service starting at 2:00pm. The graveside service will immediately follow in Garden Park Cemetery.
