Long-time Virginia Beach Rotarian, Pat Bridges, passed away on October 18, 2017. Pat had 52 years of perfect attendance in Rotary. Click here to read his full obituary. We'll miss you, Pat.
B.H. Pat Bridges, Jr.
Va Beach - B.H. Pat Bridges, Jr., 89, went to his heavenly home on October 18, 2017.
He was born in Princess Anne/Virginia Beach, VA on May 11, 1928, to B. Hughes Bridges and Helen Taylor Bridges. He has one brother, Harry Taylor Bridges of Springfield, VA.
His first marriage was to Ruth Jones Hamilton with whom he had two sons, Bartow H. Bridges, III (Sharon) of Virginia Beach and Thomas Clayton Bridges (Danette) of Riverview, FL. A step-daughter from that marriage, Kaye Hamilton Congleton, predeceased him.
Pat is survived by his loving wife, Betty Lu Scearce Bridges and her three children, Deborah Bennett LeBlanc (Mark) of Raleigh, NC, Charles N Bennett, III (Jennifer) of Raleigh and Carol Bennett Anderson (Robert) of Long Island City, NY. Seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren survive him, as well as a brother-in-law, PJ Scearce of Hilton Head, SC and numerous cousins and friends.
Pat attended VMI for one year, served in the US Army and graduated from the University of Maryland. He worked as a nurseryman, horticulture instructor and for twenty-seven years was a Landscape Architect and Horticulture Consultant in private practice. He was proud to have served as the landscape architect for the Virginia Beach Municipal Center and the Atlantic Shores Retirement Community, as well as for many businesses, churches and residences.
Pat was a civic activist who promoted the beautification of VB. He lobbied against additional billboards and electronic signs and for the planting of trees, shrubs and daffodils. In 1986, he was elected First Citizen of Virginia Beach. Pat was an active member of Virginia Beach United Methodist Church where he held many leadership positions. He also served as president of the VB Rotary Club, the VB Sports Club and the Virginia Bonsai Society. He was instrumental in beginning the Rotary Shamrock Marathon. Pat was a loyal Redskins and Washington Nationals fan. He loved to travel.
His family would like to express sincere appreciation to Barbara, his dedicated caregiver at home and to the entire staff of Harbourway at Atlantic Shores where he lived for the past nineteen months.
A celebration of Pat's life will be held at Virginia Beach United Methodist Church, 212 Nineteenth Street, VB on Monday, October 23, at 11 a.m., followed by a reception in the church fellowship hall. Burial will be private. Hollomon-Brown Funeral Home, Great Neck Chapel is handling arrangements.
Those who wish to make memorial gifts are asked to consider the Pat Bridges Scholarship Fund for Horticultural Education, % VB Beautification Commission, P.O. Box 1052, Virginia Beach, VA 23451 or a favorite charity
. Condolences may be offered to the family at www.hollomon-brown.com
Published in The Virginian Pilot on Oct. 20, 2017Va Beach - B.H. Pat Bridges, Jr., 89, went to his heavenly home on October 18, 2017.
He was born in Princess Anne/Virginia Beach, VA on May 11, 1928, to B. Hughes Bridges and Helen Taylor Bridges. He has one brother, Harry Taylor Bridges of Springfield, VA.
His first marriage was to Ruth Jones Hamilton with whom he had two sons, Bartow H. Bridges, III (Sharon) of Virginia Beach and Thomas Clayton Bridges (Danette) of Riverview, FL. A step-daughter from that marriage, Kaye Hamilton Congleton, predeceased him.
Pat is survived by his loving wife, Betty Lu Scearce Bridges and her three children, Deborah Bennett LeBlanc (Mark) of Raleigh, NC, Charles N Bennett, III (Jennifer) of Raleigh and Carol Bennett Anderson (Robert) of Long Island City, NY. Seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren survive him, as well as a brother-in-law, PJ Scearce of Hilton Head, SC and numerous cousins and friends.
Pat attended VMI for one year, served in the US Army and graduated from the University of Maryland. He worked as a nurseryman, horticulture instructor and for twenty-seven years was a Landscape Architect and Horticulture Consultant in private practice. He was proud to have served as the landscape architect for the Virginia Beach Municipal Center and the Atlantic Shores Retirement Community, as well as for many businesses, churches and residences.
Pat was a civic activist who promoted the beautification of VB. He lobbied against additional billboards and electronic signs and for the planting of trees, shrubs and daffodils. In 1986, he was elected First Citizen of Virginia Beach. Pat was an active member of Virginia Beach United Methodist Church where he held many leadership positions. He also served as president of the VB Rotary Club, the VB Sports Club and the Virginia Bonsai Society. He was instrumental in beginning the Rotary Shamrock Marathon. Pat was a loyal Redskins and Washington Nationals fan. He loved to travel.
His family would like to express sincere appreciation to Barbara, his dedicated caregiver at home and to the entire staff of Harbourway at Atlantic Shores where he lived for the past nineteen months.
A celebration of Pat's life will be held at Virginia Beach United Methodist Church, 212 Nineteenth Street, VB on Monday, October 23, at 11 a.m., followed by a reception in the church fellowship hall. Burial will be private. Hollomon-Brown Funeral Home, Great Neck Chapel is handling arrangements.
Those who wish to make memorial gifts are asked to consider the Pat Bridges Scholarship Fund for Horticultural Education, % VB Beautification Commission, P.O. Box 1052, Virginia Beach, VA 23451 or a favorite charity