In Memory Of
John W.H. Bridwell
1913
2012
John W.H. Bridwell
December 29, 1913 — August 7, 2012
John William Howard Bridwell, 98, Topeka, died Tuesday, August 7, 2012 in Topeka.
He was born December 29, 1913, in Ottawa, KS, the son of Eska J. and Fern H. (Mace) Bridwell. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Iona "Nonnie" Dewey. He is survived by a son, John Dewey Bridwell and his wife Phyllis of Boulder, CO; grandson Kevin and his wife Sara of Alexandria, VA; grandson Brian and his wife Julie and great-grandchildren Malcolm, Chloe, and Truman of Bothell, WA; and granddaughter Carolyn of Sterling, VA.
He was married to Anna K. Miles December 29, 1946. She preceded him in death January 4, 1996. Also preceding him in death was son Bernard P. Miles. He is survived by Bernie's widow Ann of Topeka; grandchildren Gregory Miles and his wife Betty and great-grandchildren Mary and Paul of Colorado Springs, CO; granddaughter Cathy and her husband Don Cathey of Topeka and great-grandchildren Michelle, Douglas, Josh and his wife Erin and great-great grandchild Tristan; Vincent Miles and his wife Juliet of Colorado Springs, CO and her daughter A'Lina Banks and husband Ellis and their children Londyn and Ellis; and granddaughter Deborah and her husband Ken Greiner, and great-grandchildren Michael, Matthew, and Mitchell of Columbus, NE.
After graduating from the Ottawa school system he continued his education in two specialist colleges. He volunteered for the draft in late 1940, and was called to active service in February 1941. He was assigned to the U.S. Army's 11th Evacuation Hospital, at Camp Robinson, just north of Little Rock. After initial training, the unit served in the Louisiana Field Maneuvers with General Eisenhower and other rising stars, and at the Desert Training Center in California with General Patton. The unit sailed for Africa in November 1942. They served in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, France, and Germany, caring for over 20,000 combat wounded soldiers by the end of the war. He was honorably discharged in August 1945. He received numerous campaign medals, the Good Conduct Medal, and the Bronze Star. Following the war, he served with the Kansas National Guard providing medical training to guardsmen. He was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1650.
He worked with the brain surgery team at the Winter VA Hospital in Topeka. His specialty was clinical perimetry. He and his wife Ann operated a drug store in McClouth, KS in the 1950s. Following that, he had a long career at Duffens Optical in Topeka. Key among his many specialties there was ocular prosthesis. After retiring from Duffens, he volunteered at two Topeka retirement homes in providing eye care to the residents. He continued this well into his nineties.
A graveside service will be held at 10:00 am, Friday, August 10, 2012, at the Penwell-Gabel Cemetery. John will lie in state Thursday, August 9, 2012, from 1:00 pm-5:00 pm and a visitation to follow from 5:00 pm-7:00 pm at the Penwell-Gabel Mid-Town Chapel, Topeka.
Memorial contributions may be made to Easter Seals Capper Foundation, 3500 SW 10th Ave, Topeka, Kansas 66604.
He was born December 29, 1913, in Ottawa, KS, the son of Eska J. and Fern H. (Mace) Bridwell. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Iona "Nonnie" Dewey. He is survived by a son, John Dewey Bridwell and his wife Phyllis of Boulder, CO; grandson Kevin and his wife Sara of Alexandria, VA; grandson Brian and his wife Julie and great-grandchildren Malcolm, Chloe, and Truman of Bothell, WA; and granddaughter Carolyn of Sterling, VA.
He was married to Anna K. Miles December 29, 1946. She preceded him in death January 4, 1996. Also preceding him in death was son Bernard P. Miles. He is survived by Bernie's widow Ann of Topeka; grandchildren Gregory Miles and his wife Betty and great-grandchildren Mary and Paul of Colorado Springs, CO; granddaughter Cathy and her husband Don Cathey of Topeka and great-grandchildren Michelle, Douglas, Josh and his wife Erin and great-great grandchild Tristan; Vincent Miles and his wife Juliet of Colorado Springs, CO and her daughter A'Lina Banks and husband Ellis and their children Londyn and Ellis; and granddaughter Deborah and her husband Ken Greiner, and great-grandchildren Michael, Matthew, and Mitchell of Columbus, NE.
After graduating from the Ottawa school system he continued his education in two specialist colleges. He volunteered for the draft in late 1940, and was called to active service in February 1941. He was assigned to the U.S. Army's 11th Evacuation Hospital, at Camp Robinson, just north of Little Rock. After initial training, the unit served in the Louisiana Field Maneuvers with General Eisenhower and other rising stars, and at the Desert Training Center in California with General Patton. The unit sailed for Africa in November 1942. They served in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, France, and Germany, caring for over 20,000 combat wounded soldiers by the end of the war. He was honorably discharged in August 1945. He received numerous campaign medals, the Good Conduct Medal, and the Bronze Star. Following the war, he served with the Kansas National Guard providing medical training to guardsmen. He was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1650.
He worked with the brain surgery team at the Winter VA Hospital in Topeka. His specialty was clinical perimetry. He and his wife Ann operated a drug store in McClouth, KS in the 1950s. Following that, he had a long career at Duffens Optical in Topeka. Key among his many specialties there was ocular prosthesis. After retiring from Duffens, he volunteered at two Topeka retirement homes in providing eye care to the residents. He continued this well into his nineties.
A graveside service will be held at 10:00 am, Friday, August 10, 2012, at the Penwell-Gabel Cemetery. John will lie in state Thursday, August 9, 2012, from 1:00 pm-5:00 pm and a visitation to follow from 5:00 pm-7:00 pm at the Penwell-Gabel Mid-Town Chapel, Topeka.
Memorial contributions may be made to Easter Seals Capper Foundation, 3500 SW 10th Ave, Topeka, Kansas 66604.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of John W.H. Bridwell, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Visitation
Thursday, August 9, 2012
5:00 - 7:00 pm (Central time)
Penwell-Gabel - Mid-Town Chapel
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