Ed V. Bridges, 86

Funeral services for Ed V. Bridges, 86, of Bakersfield, will be held at 2 p.m. today, April 25, 2018, at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home in West Plains.
Mr. Bridges died April 22 at Mercy Hospital in Springfield.
He was born Feb. 12, 1932, in Elijah, the son of William Edgar and Jennie Mullins Bridges.  On Nov. 5, 1956, he married Freda June Davis at Salem, Arkansas.
Mr. Bridges was an Army veteran who served during the Korean Conflict from 1952 to 1954 and was awarded the Bronze Star for his heroism. He was a 32nd degree Mason, and in his younger years, he owned and operated Ed’s Sovereign Cut Rate Gas Station, Bridges & Sons Logging, Bridges Farms Trucking and Ozark Coach Lines bus service, transporting Baxter Healthcare employees to and from work. In his later years, Mr. Bridges was a farmer.
He was a loving husband, father and grandfather who enjoyed hunting, fishing, tinkering with diesel engines, farming, gardening and sitting on the porch enjoying life and watching his grandchildren play ball.
He is survived by his wife, Freda, of the family home; six sons, Dale Bridges and wife Lola of Bakersfield, Russell Bridges of Fairdealing, Missouri, Steven Bridges and Brian Bridges and wife Jennifer, all of Caulfield, William Bridges of the family home and James Bridges and wife Janeen of  Fredericktown, Missouri; 10 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren and one on the way; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; four sisters, Ruby, LouAlice, Thur-lynn and Bonnie; and one daughter-in-law, Mary Jane.
Burial will be in the Baptist Hill Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Disabled Veterans of America and may be left at the funeral home. Online condolences may be expressed at robertsondrago.com.
Robertson-Drago Funeral Home, West Plains, directors.