Caroline Lucille Bridges

Caroline Lucille Ball Bridges, 84, passed away Saturday, July 8, 2023, after a lengthy battle of dementia. Caroline was born on February 7, 1939 in Long Beach, Ca and is preceded in death by her parents, Tom and Bonnie Ball and her daughter, Gayle Cuadros. She is the oldest of three children and is survived by her brothers, Tom and Bob. She is also survived by her two children, Cecila Carr. Eric Mueller. her daughter-in-law, Cari Mueller, her nine grandchildren, eight great grandchildren, cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Caroline was very artistic in painting, jewelry, and ceramics. She was employed as a switchboard operator at Pacific Bell, New England Bell, Southwestern Bell, and US West. At Pacific Bell she was part of a group of women that was promoted to technical jobs that had previously been only given to men when Pacific Bell was ordered to make their workforce balanced between men and women. Caroline was politically active and helped on many local and national campaigns. She was elected vice-president of her local union, Communication Workers of America Local 11509. As union vice-president, she visited the White House and had the opportunity to meet President Jimmy Carter. She worked as a maintenance splicer despite falling off a telephone pole during her training. At the end of her career, she was promoted to a manager position in Los Angeles. After retiring, she moved to Oregon with her third husband, Carl. She went back to work as an operator and helped unionize the operators.

Before Caroline was married to Carl, she was married to Bob Mueller and Gary Farrar. Despite her marriages, she remained an independent woman and a very progressive liberal Democrat. She also burned her bra in the 70s. Throughout her life she had close relationships with cousins from both of her parents’ families. Caroline, Lorraine, and Cecilia Craig hung out together as kids, teens, and adults. According to her stories they snuck out at night to go meet sailors in Long Beach. The cousins continued their adventures and traveled in Lorraine’s motorhome club.

The most important thing in her life was her kids, grandkids, and great grandkids. She was very involved with her kids, grandkids, great grandkids, and nieces and made trips yearly to visit with her Southern California grandkids.

Caroline was a beautiful and loving person who always had a smile on her face. She will be missed by many. We’re sure she is with Lorraine, Luann, Gayle, and her parents most likely drinking some wine and playing Scrabble.