Funeral services for Donald Bridges are scheduled for Saturday, March 9th at 1:00 p.m. at the Craddock Memorial Chapel with Pastor Ronnie Brumley officiating. Interment will follow at Rosehill Cemetery with full military honors.

Donald Bridges passed away on Tuesday, February 27, 2024, at the age of 95 in La Palma, California. He was born on Monday, December 24, 1928, in Ardmore, Oklahoma, as the youngest of seven sons of Ira Esco Bridges Sr. and Clara Bell Cash. He is survived by his wife, Li-Ying Bridges (Yang); by his children, Donald Bridges, Jr., Ilene Hodges, Claire Springer, Richard Bridges, Diane Mandrich, and Arthur Bridges, and their mother, Yoshika Margaret Bridges (Fujita); eight grandchildren and one predeceased grandson, and by 19 great grandchildren.

As a youth Donald joined the Presbyterian church and later as an adult was elected Elder and taught Sunday school. He graduated from Central High School in Oklahoma City, attended Oklahoma State University, and obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors from the University of Maryland, where he completed all courses for a Master of Arts in Criminology. Donald graduated from Oklahoma City University with a Master's Degree in Criminal Justice, was cited as "Outstanding Graduate Student", and was an adjunct professor in the graduate school.

The statement Donald can be remembered by most is, "If I told you what I did, I would have to kill you". He served 23 years (really 27) in the US Army Counterintelligence Corps and retired as a Chief Warrant Officer-4. He was a fluent Japanese linguist and a Certified Polygraph Examiner and was assigned overseas twice to Japan, twice to Korea, and once each to Okinawa and Vietnam. His last assignment before retirement was as Case Supervisor, Defense Investigative Service, in Washington D.C. Donald was awarded a Bronze Star and four other military medals. For exemplary performance of duty, he received commendations and appreciation letters from representatives of foreign as well as domestic governments, including letters from two different US Presidents.

After military service, Donald worked 12 years as Director of Safety and Security at Baptist Medical Center in Oklahoma City. He was among the first 50 persons worldwide to be designated as a Certified Health Protection Administrator, based on education, experience, and written examination by the International Association of Healthcare.

Donald later moved to California, where during his retirement years he performed genealogy research recorded in the book, The Bridges of Oklahoma, registered with the Oklahoma Historical Society. He also served as a tutor of English to Asian children spanning as many as seven different languages in his "spare time".

In addition to family, Donald will be missed by many friends. His remains will be laid to rest near his relatives in Rose Hill Cemetery, Ardmore, Oklahoma.