Don left us too soon on October 15, 2022.
Don was born in Dinuba, CA to Robert and Evelyn Bridges on August 7th, 1953.
His childhood was spent in Central and Southern California, playing with his siblings, cousins and uncles.
Don met his soul mate, Doris (Bergen), at church in Downey, CA in 1971.
They married on October 28th, 1974 and spent just shy of 48 years together.
Together, Don and Doris, made a wonderful life in Southern CA, welcoming their daughter, Heidi, in 1975 and son, Jason, in 1977.
In 2007, Don and Doris moved to their retirement home in Lovelock, NV.
Don’s passion was always cars. As a young child, he would work on cars with his family members; first job was as a gas station attendant; took automotive classes in high school and college; and he owned American Muffler in San Diego, CA.
All of Don’s family and friends spent hours sitting in his garages, shops and driveways, working on or talking about cars.
Don was talented – metal and paint were his creative outlet.
Don was a proud military veteran. His military career started in the Fresno CA Air National Guard with the fire department. He transferred to Norton AFB and was the Assistant Fire Chief.
He later transfer to March AFB and became active duty in 1990 and served 3 tours of duty for Desert Shield and Desert Storm as a Security Police Officer.
He was among the first US personnel on the ground in Kuwait when the war started. After retiring from the Air Force, Don became a reservist for the Army in Los Alamitos as a Huey Crew Chief and later as a bomb technician in Phoenix AZ.
A highlight of Jason and Heidi’s childhood was Don flying over their Lake Elsinore, CA home in a Huey and waving at them and their friends (kind of scared their adult neighbors).
Don never met a stranger. At heart, Don was a teacher and spent most of his life mentoring others.
Don is survived by his loving family: wife, Doris; daughter and son-in-law, Heidi and Josh Lusby; son and daughter-in-law, Jason and Ceara Bridges; his four granddaughters and grandson-in-law, Allyse & Brandon Coyle, Alexis Lusby, Ashlyn Lusby, and Jillian Bridges.
Don was so proud of having 2 great-granddaughters, Bridget and Aria Coyle.
He is also survived by his brother Keith (Nancy) Bridges and Susan Weiss and numerous nieces and nephews.
The funeral will be November 7, 2022 at the N NV Veterans Military Cemetery at 11am.
Immediately afterwards there will be a memorial at the Pershing Co Community Center.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Wreaths Across America in Don’s memory.
