Frank Bridge
Frank William Bridge was born in London, Ontario, on December 21st, 1939 to William and Helen Bridge (Ridderhouse, Cullen).
Frank was a Royal Canadian Airforce veteran securing the safety of our country along the Pinetree Line at Mont Apica and Trois Rivieres, Quebec. The Pinetree Line was a radar line that was the first coordinated system for early detection of a Soviet bomber attack on North America. He met Mary Marguerite Brown (Marg) while they were both stationed at Mont Apica and he proposed marriage on Hallowe’en night. They were married on April 25th, 1959.
Together Frank and Marg had three daughters: Elaine (Patrick), Karen (Ed) and Shelley. Frank was a proud grandpa to Tom, Jenny (Nakao), Christine (Mat), Jodi (Steffen) and Kevin (Billie) and he was “Papa” to his beloved great granddaughter, Emma.
Frank would listen patiently and with great interest to the babbling of toddlers as he wandered with them across the lawn of their property in Port Perry talking about plants and bugs, sunshine and life and everything else. As they grew through childhood, adolescence and adulthood, his grandchildren always found ways to return to their grandparents’ homes. They were, and always will be for them, places of love and acceptance.
Frank’s great granddaughter, Emma, is now a toddler. His warm smile and laughter showed the deep connection Frank had to the wonders of life and his love for yet another generation of his family.
Frank retired from Ontario Hydro as an Instrumentation and Electrical Supervisory Technologist at the Bruce Nuclear Generating Station and the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station.
Throughout his life Frank enjoyed a wide range of exciting activities including aerobatic flight training, fishing, hunting, curling, motorcycling, golfing, scuba diving and camping. His camping breakfasts were the stuff of legends! Many a world problem was solved around the campfire.
Frank and Marg recently moved to Kincardine to be close to their family. Frank died peacefully on October 31st, 2018 with Marg, his wife and life partner for 60 years, at his side and his three daughters around him.
Frank is survived by his two brothers, Wayne (Donna) and Blair (Wayne).
Frank will be forever missed by those who knew his generous heart, his sense of fun, and his love for his family.
A celebration of Frank’s life will be held in early summer next year.
Donations to the Canadian Cancer Society to help fight prostate cancer would be greatly appreciated. (www.cancer.ca)
Frank’s family greatly appreciated the support of the Community Care Access Centre; Carepartners; Paramed Home Healthcare Services; Kincardine and District Hospital physicians, nurses and staff; Mike McKechnie – Pharmacist, McKechnie Pharmacy, Kincardine; Medigas; Dr. Damian Gunaratne and Dr. Angela Cavanagh, their clinic nurses, receptionists and staff; the Oshawa and London Cancer Centres, and the many others who supported Frank and his family through his illness.