Biography: Edward Thomas “Tom” Bridgers II, a 4^th generation Arkansan died on May, 29, 2024 at the age of 88 with his family by his side. He was born in McGehee, AR on March 31, 1936 to Lois Isabelle Phillips of Arkadelphia and Edward Thomas Bridgers of McGehee.

Mr. Bridgers spent his early years in McGehee and Pine Bluff where he was doted on and loved by his Aunts Sissy and Dear. He attended Chamberlain Hunt Academy in Port Gibson, MS and graduated from North Little Rock High School in 1954. In 1961, he received a BA degree from Hendrix College where he met the love of his life and received the Mosley Economics award for scholarship. He received his MBA from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville in 1963. In 1974, he graduated from the Banking School of the South at LSU.

In 1959, he married his college sweetheart, Ann Roth Cox of Conway.

 He was preceded in death by his parents, sons Sean Phillips and Edward Thomas “Bret” Bridgers III, daughter Virginia Beth Bloodworth and aunts Cecil “Sissy” Gibson, Annie “Dear” Bridgers Lang, Annie Winburn Runyan, and Bryan Runyan who all helped raise him. His first best friends Lois Ann Chanslor and Bill Runyan also preceded him in death.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Ann, his daughter Kimberly Porter (Derek), his son-in-law Bobby Bloodworth and the lights of his life, his grandchildren Isabelle and Luke Porter and Emma and Zeb Bloodworth. He is also survived by his cousin Charlotte Holiman.

Prior to starting his starting his own company, Bridgers, Inc., a manufacturer of ambulances in NLR, Mr. Bridgers was a vice-president of Union National Bank, Commercial National Bank Financial Services Corporation, part owner of Ford-Mercury-Lincoln dealership, owned a Superior Funeral Couch and Limousine dealership, was a Director of Data Processing at Arkansas Employment Security Division and held management positions at Southwestern Bell Telephone and Dow Smith, Inc. He also worked as an adjunct instructor at Philander Smith College and the University of Central Arkansas.

He was a Korean era Navy veteran and served for 25 years in the Arkansas National Guard. While in the Navy he served as a Beach Lifeguard in California. Captain Bridgers was a helicopter pilot and a Master Army Aviator with over 3000 flight hours.

He was a lifelong Presbyterian and a member of Second Presbyterian Church where he served as a Deacon, Elder, Sunday school superintendent, Clerk of the Session and President of the Men’s Bible class.

Mr. Bridgers served on numerous boards during his lifetime but was proudest of his service as President to the Little Rock Wind Symphony and as President of the Presbyterian Village and Vice President of the Presbyterian Village Board. He was a member of the West Little Rock Rotary Club where he was a three-time Paul Harris Fellow.

He enjoyed being a member of “The Over the Hill Gang” of volunteers who worked for Habitat for Humanity, Ferncliff Presbyterian Camp, Wildwood Park, Partners for Pinnacle and other venues as needed.  He delivered meals for, “Meals on Wheels” for many years with his grandson, Luke.

One of his greatest joys was teaching and playing sports with his grandchildren. He spent many hours on the soccer fields, watching baseball at Junior Deputy, attending track meets and any other sport where his grandchildren were participating.
The most important things in Tom’s life were family, friends, church and his country.  He was a proud of his Native American ancestry, Nansemond Indian Nation of Virginia.

Funeral service will be held at Second Presbyterian Church at 11 am on June 7, 2024, with a reception to follow. He will be buried at Arkansas Veteran’s Cemetery, North Little Rock, Arkansas.

Memorials may be made in his name to Second Presbyterian Church, 600 Pleasant Valley Drive, Little Rock, AR 72227.