C. Richard "Dick" Bridges Jr. Bridges' Obituary
Carroll Richard Bridges, Jr., 78, of Vandalia, IL passed
away July 17, 2012 after battling illness for the past few months
of his life. His loving wife, Carol Kaye (Shafer), was at his side
when he passed away. Dick and Carol were happily married for nearly
fifty years and were proud parents of three loving children and
grandparents to seven wonderful grand children with another one on
the way. Dick was born on August 3, 1933 the son of Carroll Richard
and Elizabeth Mae (McCollum) Bridges.
Dick was a retired educator, assistant principal, and
principal who had worked for the Illinois Department of Corrections
in St. Charles, IL for 27 years and another eight years as the
Director of Correctional Programming for Elgin Community College in
Elgin, IL. Dick became an educator after earning his Bachelor
of Arts at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. Later, he
went on to earn a Master's Degree from Northern Illinois
University. Prior to college, Dick proudly served in the US
Navy during the Korean War. Dick was stationed aboard the USS
Mindoro and was honored to serve his country from 1951 to
1955. Dick grew up in Benton, IL and graduated from Benton
Community High School in 1951 as a proud Benton Ranger.
His greatest source of pride was his family. Dick
was a passionate father and devoted husband who frequently
sacrificed his own career advancement opportunities in order to
keep his family rooted in St. Charles, IL where the family lived
from 1962 through 2003. Dick and Carol were tremendously
supportive of their three children and spent untold hours attending
their children's sporting events and school activities. Family and
home were most important to Dick and his family. A wonderful story
teller, Dick would love to sit on the back porch with his family
and dog Minnie to share both his wisdom and sense of humor with
those he loved.
In addition to his wife, Carol Kaye (Shafer) Bridges, Dick
is survived by his three children, Richard Bridges and wife Maria
of St. Charles, Illinois; Daniel Bridges and wife Jill of Geneva,
Illinois; and Shannon Bridges and fiancé Christopher Sidwell
of Vandalia. He is also survived by seven grandchildren: Jacob,
Sean, Andrew, Joshua, Ethan, Sara and Kaleb. Additionally, Dick is
survived by his sister Judy Etchason and husband Kenneth of St.
Charles, Illinois; several brothers-in-law, sister-in-law, and
several nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother James
Robert, grandson Ian Matthew, and his in-laws, Frank and Frances
Shafer.
A Memorial Service in Dick's honor will be held at 1:30
PM, Sunday, July 22, 2012 at Northside Christian Church in
Vandalia, IL with Pastor Carl Rhodes officiating. Burial will
follow in the Jewett Cemetery, Jewett, IL with military rites
accorded by Cumberland County Veterans. Memorials may be made to
Northside Christian Church, Fayette County Long Term Care or the
donor's choice.
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