Fred T. Bridges

Fred T. Bridges, Jr., age 86, of the Due West Retirement Center, Due West, S.C., died on Saturday, August 11, 2007. His parents were the late Fred T., Sr., and Delpha Maddox Bridges, of Atlanta, Georgia.

Bridges was born in Dublin, Georgia, but at the age of two, his family moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where he attended the Public Schools, graduating from Atlanta Boys High School.

In 1942, Bridges, graduated from Georgia Tech with a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Management. While at Tech, he participated in the Advance R.O.T.C. Program and upon graduating, was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Army Air Corps and immediately ordered to active duty.

During WWII, Bridges served in the Army Air Corps for 44 months, after which he returned to Georgia Tech where he earned a Master of Science Degree in Industrial Management.

Bridges spent 35 years in Industry, six with Dan River Mills in Danville, Virginia, and 29 with Reynolds Metals Company in Richmond, Virginia, retiring from the latter in 1982 as the Manager of Administrative Engineering.

Bridges possessed a great fondness for teaching. While in Danville, he taught "Government" at the Schoolfield High School; and subsequently, for sixteen years, served as a Special Lecturer in "Management" at University College of the University of Richmond.

Bridges maintained his commission in the Air Force Reserve and, in 1981, retired from the Air Force with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

Bridges was the co-inventor, along with Louisville, Kentucky, artist George A. Gottschalk, of twelve religious educational board games, published by Broadman Press of Nashville, Tennessee.

In 1989, Bridges and his wife Elise served six months as Management Consultants to the President of the International Baptist Seminary in Ruschlikon, Switzerland.

After having resided in Richmond, Virginia, for 36 years, the Bridges retired to Due West, South Carolina in 1994, where they were most active in the community life of the college town. Although Mr. Bridges had been an active churchman in the Baptist Church for 63 years, he joined the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church in which he and Elise were married in 1943.

Bridges served the Due West ARP Church as Congregational Chairman, Deacon, Elder, and member of the Cemetery Association.

In 1997, when the Lions Club of Due West was organized, Bridges was elected the Charter President. The Fred T. Bridges, Jr Annual Award was established in his honor. He also served four times as President of the Residents Council of the Due West Retirement Center.

Mr. Bridges is survived by his wife of 64 years, Elise Nance Bridges; a brother, Dr. Francis J. Bridges of Atlanta, Georgia; a sister, Margaret B. Trawicky of Decatur, Georgia; a daughter, Sara B. Metz; a son, Vance M. Bridges ; and three grandsons, Fletcher Metz and his wife, Joanna; Hunter Metz all of Richmond, Virginia; and
Terence Metz and his wife, Laura, of Lake Mary, Florida.

A graveside Service with full military rites will be conducted Monday, August 13, 2007 at 1:30 PM in the Due West ARP Church Cemetery, with a memorial Service to follow at 2:00 PM in the ARP Church Sanctuary. The Elders and Deacons of the Church will serve as Honorary Pall Bearers.

Immediately following the Service, the family will receive friends in the Fellowship Hall of the ARP Church.

Any memorial contributions should be directed either to the Ebenezer Foundation of the Due West Retirement Center P O Box 307 Due West, SC 29639 or to the Due West ARP Church Cemetery Association P O Box 144 Due West, SC 29639.

Visitation

Due West ARP Church
112 North Main St
Due West, SC  29639
Monday, August 13, 2007
After Service

Service

Due West ARP Church
112 North Main St
Due West, SC  29639
Monday, August 13, 2007
2:00 PM

Interment

Due West ARP Church Cemetery
116 North Main St
Due West ,  SC  29639