He was born in Donalsonville, GA to the late Perry L Bridges and Mrs. Patricia Forrester Bridges, presently of Watkinsville, GA. Buddy, as he was known to his family and friends, was raised by his loving parents on Potpourri Farm just outside of Blakely, GA. He attended North Georgia College where he was a member of the Corps of Cadets and Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. Graduating in 1977 with a BS degree, he was commissioned as a 2LT in the United States Army Signal Corps.
During his 27-year Army career he served with and commanded American Soldiers at the company, battalion, and brigade level—in Europe, Central America, and Asia. After retiring from the Army he worked for Lockheed Martin in Owego, NY as a Senior Business Development Analyst, retiring from there in 2016. Along the way Buddy earned master’s degrees from Central Michigan University and the University of Alabama; served on the Board of Directors and was Vice Chairman of the North Georgia Corps of Cadets Association (NGCCA); was a member of the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA), the Military Officers Association (MOA), and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW).
He is survived by his beloved wife Terry Kendall Bridges; children, Robert Forrester Bridges and wife Christina, Kennesaw, GA; Caroline Bridges Bishop and husband Jeremy, Clarkesville, GA; and Taylor Kendall Bridges and wife Cortny, Nazareth, PA; grandchildren, James Forrester Bridges, Steven Perry Bridges, and Mara Kendall Bishop. Also surviving are his mother, Mrs. Patricia Forrester Bridges, Watkinsville, GA; parents-in-law, Mr. Jack Kendall and wife Nelda (Noddie), and Ms. Audrey Kendall and companion Mr. Dowain Nielson, all of Troy; sister Patricia Massey and husband Sam, Athens, GA; brother Colonel (R) Clay Forrester Bridges and wife Laurence, Ankara, Turkey; brother-in-law Jay Kendall and wife Mary,Columbia Cross Roads; and numerous nieces and nephews who enriched his life.
Memorial services were July 18 at the First Baptist Church in Troy.
"Buddy" requests three things: (1) Attend the church of your choice this weekend (2) Make sure that you hug those folks you love. (3) Make a life-long habit of things one and two.
Arrangements were under the direction of the Gerald W. Vickery, Jr. Funeral & Cremation Service, Troy.