John Bridges, age 76, peacefully passed away on August 10, 2022 in Denver Colorado

surrounded by loved ones after an eighteen month battle with pancreatic cancer.

John Dillon-Bridges was born on March 27, 1945 to U.S. Army Corporal Lawrence I.

Dillon and Wanda Courtney-Dillon of Winfield, Kansas. The marriage of Cpl. Dillon

and Wanda Courtney was short-lived and the two divorced in less than a year. While

visiting relatives in Texas, Wanda met her future and eternal husband Ernest G.

Bridges. John, Johnny as he was called then, was not yet two years old when Mr.

Bridges adopted little John as his own and would always be known as John Bridges.

Mom, Dad, and little Johnny moved to Winfield, Kansas to be closer to relatives and

Grandma & Grandpa Courtney. At the age of twelve John would become the “Big

Brother” of the family having two younger brothers named Dwayne, born 1957, and

Steven, born 1959.

The early years after Dwayne and Steven were born and John was entering High School

the family lived on a wheat farm located a few miles west of Winfield. Dad worked as a

Master Mechanic for John Deere with Mom having the toughest job as a homemaker

and in charge of a houseful of boys. John being the oldest was assigned most all extra

chores to help Mom when his studies were met which included babysitting his two

baby brothers and caring for the family pet named Shep. In a household of boys, even

the family dog found a way to chip in. It was Shep who would teach the youngest of the

boys to walk.

By 1963, John’s two younger brothers were no longer babies and he was about to

graduate High School he elects to join the United States Air Force (USAF). Although

interested in college, he did what many young High School graduates were doing at

this time, they were not going to take a chance on their number being drawn in the new

enacted military draft. At the time, there was a national shortage of young men and

women in the military and the United States had entered the Vietnam War. John passed

all the necessary entrance tests and joined the USAF.

John entered the United States Air Force on May 31, 1963 just a few days after

graduating High School. He completed his USAF Basic Training at Lackland AFB in San

Antonio, Texas. After Basic Training and taking the Military Occupational Specialty

(MOS) Tests, John came home for a few weeks for some R&R. Once rested, his orders

said to report to Ellsworth AFB South Dakota for the required training to become an Air

Force Police and Security Specialist. It would be 1964 when his final MOS training

completed and was ordered to report for duty at AFB Rimini, Italy. John would spend

his remining active-duty years in Italy as a USAF Policeman & Security Specialist.

After completing his years in the United States Air Force he returns to Winfield and

moves to Wichita, KS. It is in Wichita he begins his career as a Photo Journalist. His first

civilian job with KAKE TV where one of his long-time friends and renown hometown

journalist Larry Hatteberg was working. John worked at KAKE TV for a good number

of years before he would venture out on his own as an Independent Photo Journalist

with Studio. Larry remained at KAKE TV and would become a very well-known

Broadcast News Anchor at the Wichita News Station. John always wanted his own

business and was seemingly born with an entrepreneurial spirit. John did well with his

Photography Studio in Wichita and did so all throughout the 1970’s specializing in

portraits, weddings, and photojournalism.

Before the end of 70's era, John would move to Denver, Colorado. It is in Denver,

Colorado that John would make his home. His most enjoyable years and memories

would be realized in Denver. He enjoyed his close community of friends and loved

being near the majestic Rocky Mountains. As mentioned, John’s entrepreneurial spirit

took rise and shifted his talents to becoming a Property Management Professional

which he continued until retirement in December 2019. John became well-known far

and wide by all his property tenants as a warm and welcoming presence who was

always the empathetic listener no matter the issue. His office was always filled with

gifts of appreciation for his part in making their life better regardless how small or

insignificant the life issue. John will always be remembered for his humanity.

John was preceded by the death of his Mother, Wanda Ruth Bridges (1928-2018) and his

Father, Ernest Gaston Bridges (1922-2020). John is survived by his two younger brothers

and their families. Dwayne and Renee Bridges of Plano, Texas; Karensa M. Bridges-

Edmonson and David Edmonson and their children, Anthony, Krystalyn, and Pierce

Edmondson of Midlothian, Texas. Steven and Leslie Bridges and their son, Sean

Bridges of Del Mar, California.

John wished to have his remains cremated and spread at the private location where the

remains of his parents were spread. In lieu of a Public or Gathered Service, the family

has built this Memorial Website where Memories and Life Stories of John can be

shared for all who knew him.

Family Memorial Website – https://everloved.com/memorial/john-bridges-denver-colorado/obituary/

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