Charles D. Bridges III

Charles D. Bridges III, “Charley,” born and raised in Seattle, died on Sept. 23, while living in Palm Desert, Calif. Mr. Bridges graduated from Broadway High School in 1944 and was on the high school golf team during all four years. He then entered the V12A program in Minot, N.D., in preparation for Naval flight training. His eyesight prevented him from entering flight school, and he was transferred to the University of Minnesota Navy ROTC program. When WWII ended, he was discharged from the Navy and returned to Seattle, where he graduated from the University of Washington in 1948. After graduating, he entered the real estate business as a mortgage loan officer. This was interrupted by the Korean War, at which time he re-entered the Navy as a Supply Corps Officer in Bayonne, N.J. While in Bayonne, he married Catherine Ann Blair in 1950, whom he had met in Seattle. They were married in the First Presbyterian Church in Greenwich Village, N.Y., where Mrs. Bridges’ mother, Katherine DuPre’, had married Woolvin Patten eight years earlier.

October 1, 2008 4:00 pm

Charles D. Bridges III, “Charley,” born and raised in Seattle, died on Sept. 23, while living in Palm Desert, Calif. Mr. Bridges graduated from Broadway High School in 1944 and was on the high school golf team during all four years. He then entered the V12A program in Minot, N.D., in preparation for Naval flight training. His eyesight prevented him from entering flight school, and he was transferred to the University of Minnesota Navy ROTC program. When WWII ended, he was discharged from the Navy and returned to Seattle, where he graduated from the University of Washington in 1948. After graduating, he entered the real estate business as a mortgage loan officer. This was interrupted by the Korean War, at which time he re-entered the Navy as a Supply Corps Officer in Bayonne, N.J. While in Bayonne, he married Catherine Ann Blair in 1950, whom he had met in Seattle. They were married in the First Presbyterian Church in Greenwich Village, N.Y., where Mrs. Bridges’ mother, Katherine DuPre’, had married Woolvin Patten eight years earlier.

Upon graduating from Naval Supply Corps School in Bayonne, Mr. Bridges’ first duty station was in Trinidad, British West Indies. While in Trinidad, the high-priority off-duty activity was golf. Mr. Bridges won the club championship at the Naval Station Trinidad golf course. While in the service, the Bridges moved an additional 16 times, including a three-year tour in Japan.

The majority of the Bridges’ residences felt like home because of their inherited and collected antiques and Mrs. Bridges’ flair for decorating. Mr. Bridges retired from the Navy in 1968, and they returned to Seattle. They purchased a home on Mercer Island, and Mr. Bridges returned to real estate as an associate broker with John L. Scott, Inc. In 1985 he retired again and moved with Mrs. Bridges to Palm Desert, Calif., where Mr. Bridges became a long-standing member of the Golf Club.

Mr. Bridges could never obtain the level of golf that he played as a young man but thoroughly enjoyed the golf course and club members until the loss of his vision in 2006.

Mr. Bridges was preceded in death by his father, Charles D. Bridges Jr., and his mother, Mona Alice Mylroie. He is survived by his devoted wife, Catherine Ann Bridges; two daughters, Linda Katherine Walker and Pamela Gardoski; and four grandchildren, Katie Walker, and Charley, RuthAnn and David Gardoski.

Mr. Bridges will be buried at Lake View Cemetery in Seattle. Graveside services will be held at a later date. Remembrances are suggested to the National Fraxa Research Foundation or the Braille Institute of Rancho Mirage. The family would like to thank Mr. Bridges’ caregivers for their compassion, dedication and caring. Mr. Bridges was deeply loved by his wife and children — he enriched all of our lives and we will treasure the memories.