Married to Edna Ethel Bridges for 75 years October 6th.
Four surviving children, daughter June Gail Lamson, husband Leigh S Lamson of Port St Lucie, Fla; son Franklin Theordore Bridges Jr. of Lebanon, Maine; daughter Carole Jean Powell and Richard G. Powell of Portland, Maine; and son William J. Bridges and wife Terry L Bridges of Raymond, Maine.
Also survived by 12 grandchildren, 34 great grands, and almost 9 great-great grandchildren.
Surviving brother Stanwood K Bridges of Portland, Maine; pre-deceased by parents Frank T. Bridges and Irene M. Davis Bridges both of Portland, Maine. Also pre-deceased by brother Rev. Arnold Bridges of Gulfport, Mississippi.
Raised in Portland, Maine, graduated Deering High School class of 42, attended Providence Bible Institute, and then was drafted into the Navy where he was trained and served as a tail gunner in the B24 bomber. His military service station was Dunkeswell, England, where he flew 30 missions for the 110th Squadron, more than twice the mission count of an average Naval Airman's life expectancy.
His career consisted of Sun Oil, the Portland Stove Foundry, Maine Bonding & Casualty, and as a Physical Therapist for Dr. MC Hothem, all in Portland, Maine. His passion late in life was to administer the art of reflexology, and "myopulse electric stimulation therapy"....his heart was to heal and help by way of natural means. He was always researching a natural way of healing and self reliant methods.
He served as Minister of Music for 18 years at the First Baptist Church in Portland, Maine, and played violin in the Synergy music ministry for fifteen years at New Life Christian Center in Port St. Lucie, Florida.
His hobbies were drawing, music, and inventing a better way. He played many musical instruments, but his main passion and gift of ministry was his custom made violin, built by a good friend in Maine. He also wrote and composed music for many years.
Part of his personal ministry was leading our traveling family music group to many different churches in Maine, New England, and beyond. His heart was to sing, create harmony like only families can, and to speak words of faith, encouragement, and hope with love of the goodness that only God can provide.
His retirement years were spent sitting for hours on end doing what he loved most, simulated flight. If he was in the air, he was happy. He rigged more items to assist him, new flight software as upgrades, and all the latest and greatest yoke, foot pedal controls, and computer monitors through the years. His wife Ethel was a sim-flight-widow for most of the last twenty five years, but she always knew where to find him if she needed help opening a can or cutting up veggies.
To encourage his hobbie, she had a room built that was dubbed "the hangar." It was his safe and happy place for years of flying, reminiscing, and continuing his creative writing and story telling. His wartime experience and imagination were great sources of comfort. He loved to fly his flight plans that connected him to those he loved. He loved well.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Shekinah Glory Island Ministries, a 501c3 ministry currently engaging relief efforts in the Bahamas recently destroyed by hurricane Dorian.
The following link will offer access to a donation tab. These donations will go directly to the heart of the needs and priorities that currently exist on Grand Bahama.
https://sgislandministries.org/
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.aycockportstlucie.com for the BRIDGES family.
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