Douglas Wayne Bridges

Our most beloved and unique Douglas Wayne Bridges (Papa), passed away peacefully at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital on February 8, 2022. He was 86 years of age and lived in Lantzville, B.C. Canada with his wife of 66 years, Verona.

Doug was born on May 20, 1935, in Seattle Washington, to Fred and Pauline Bridges. He had an older brother Al Bridges, eight years his senior, whom he revered. School friends and Doug got into many hijinks during his younger years. He loved to go to the Rainier’s baseball games in Seattle with his dad. Later during his years at Edmonds High School, he played basketball, acted in many plays, and made friends wherever he went. At this time, he became interested in a senior by the name of Verona Bridges. Doug graduated from high school in June 1953. Doug and Verona dated, fell in love, and married in Edmonds, Washington on September 10,1955. Verona was the light and love of his life. Doug attended Western Washington University in Bellingham, WA., earning a Bachelor’s of Elementary Education in Teaching with minors in Psychology and Sports Management in 1957. He taught fifth grade at Martha Lake Elementary for a year and then became a librarian from 1959-1969.

Doug and Verona started their family in 1959, with 3 more babies arriving until 1965.They lived in Lynnwood, W.A. Doug went back to school and achieved a Master of Librarianship degree from the University of Washington in 1969. That same year Doug became the founding librarian of Malaspina College, which had just opened in Nanaimo. He moved the whole family including a cat and dog, to Lantzville B.C., where some of the family still resides.

Doug was a lifelong learner and voracious reader, diving into books about history, travel, cooking, politics, world art, and music. He enjoyed traveling, taking many motorhome trips across the U.S., Mexico, Canada, and some ventures to Europe. Doug appreciated natural beauty in the world and studied the art of photography. His other hobbies included: creating pottery, swimming and boating, fishing, playing the piano, playing golf, performing magic tricks, and spinning wool into yarn. He was a skilled spinner of yarns, both verbal and tangible. People gravitated to Doug’s engaging personality and his ability to tell many entertaining stories.

Doug’s most valued asset was his family. He had a big heart that expanded to include not only his immediate family, but spouses, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Doug was the happiest when all his family was together. He taught all his children to view the caring and nurturing of family as the most important job one could undertake.

Doug is survived by his wife Verona Bridges of Lantzville, B.C, daughter, Paula Ludtke, (Rick) of Whidbey Island Washington, daughter Christine Grey, (Randy,) of Courtenay B.C., son Matthew Bridges, (Joan,) of Buhl Idaho, and son James Bridges, (Cheryl,) of Lantzville, B.C. Doug also leaves behind 11 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren as well as his niece and nephew. Along with his parents and brother, Doug is predeceased by his grandson James Lee Douglas Bridges who passed away during military service in Baghdad on 11/6/2006.

Papa is greatly loved and missed.