© Whinery~Huddleston Funeral ServiceLawton, Oklahoma
December 8, 2014
Howard Bertrand Bridges Sr
Birth date: August 29, 1931
Death date: December 8, 2014
Howard Bertrand Bridges, Sr., Sergeant First Class, United States Army was born on August 29, 1931 in Russum, Mississippi to the late Joseph Bridges, Sr., a logging camp cook and the late Sallie Ruth Killian Blackburn, a housewife. He died December 8, 2014 at the age of 83.
Howard moved to Port Gibson in 1944/45 and started working, at age 14, at the box factory.
He joined the Army and went to Jackson, MS in July of 1949.
Howard met the late Elnora Maxine Hopkins in 1951 and began courting just before he went to Korea. They wrote each other constantly and planned to marry during Christmas 1952. Howard proposed to Elnora in 1953, by mail. He sent the ring, by mail, in the spring or early summer. They married the same day he asked her mother for her hand on September 14, 1953. Howard Sr. and Elnora reunited on December 8, 2014 at 4:59 PM.
Howard Sr. retired from the Army on July 1, 1977 after 26 years of federal service. He received the following awards during his tours of duty: National Defense Service Medal with Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, 6th Award, Meritorious Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, United Nations Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary (Formosa), Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Parachutist Badge, and Drill Sergeant Badge.
After the Army, Howard became Sports Director at the Army Training Center. He was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #1193, Memes Temple #32, Oasis of Lawton, Desert of Oklahoma, Job Corp, and Desert CPT of Patrols. He was also a member of the Lawton/Fort Sill Officials Association, ASA Softball Hall of Fame, 9th and 10th (Horse) Cavalry Association (Buffalo Soldiers), St. John's Missionary Baptist Church where he served in the Usher and Brotherhood ministries and assisted in the Feeding Ministry, and Military Officers Association of America.
Missing him in his passing but carrying on his legacy are his loving sons, Howard Jr. (his children Stephanie Stephens, Theecla Bridges, Braylen Smith, Kendra Barber, Aujeanae Bridges, and Evelyn Bridges), Wallace (his wife, Jeanette, and children, Nichole and Wallace Jr.), Bennie, Jon (his wife, Lisa), Christopher (his daughter, Tarianna), and Ahmad; loving daughters Jacqueline (her daughter, Monique) and Elnora Maxine (her sons, Jeremey and Jordan); a beloved niece, Julia Marie Bennett; many great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and a lifetime of friends as he never met a stranger. He is also survived by his loving siblings Dorothy Mae Williams, Connie Compton, and Terry Earl Alexander. Further, Howard Sr. is preceded in death by his parents, Joseph Bridges, Sr. and Sallie Ruth Killian Blackburn; his wife of 54 years at the time of her death, Elnora Bridges; and his brother, Joseph Bridges Sr.
Visitation:
6:00 am to 8:00 pm on Monday, December 15, 2014 at Whinery-Huddleston Funeral Service 6210 NW Cache Road Lawton Oklahoma 73505
Service:
11:00 am on Tuesday, December 16, 2014 at St. Johns Baptist Church 1504 SW N. H. Jones Lawton Oklahoma 73505
Cemetery:
Post Cemetery Intersection of Macomb and Condon Road Fort Sill Oklahoma 73506
