Gary L. Bridgewater

Gary L. Bridgewater died Sunday, March 19, 2023 at his home in Rockbridge, IL. He was born April 3, 1948 to Harlan J. “Ted” and Leona O. (Wade) Bridgewater in White Hall, IL.

At the age of eighteen he took over the family farming operation at the death of his father and continued until illness forced him to retire. He was a 1966 graduate of Greenfield High School and active in football. He married his high school sweetheart, Margaret Elmore, September 4, 1966 at the Rockbridge Methodist Church.

While continuing to farm, he was employed as a crane operator at Laclede Steel in Alton, IL for 32 years until the business closed. An avid hunter and trap shooter, he and Margaret spent many weekends at trap shoots across the state and made many friends from across the country. He greatly enjoyed trap shooting, winning many trophies over the years. He was the Illinois State Singles Champion breaking 200 x 200 targets in 1994. He enjoyed hunting all sorts of wildlife and fishing with his family and friends at the family farm near Greenfield. He was a Life Member of the NRA. He greatly enjoyed watching his granddaughters, Torrie and Jillian, participate in their sporting activities.

He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Margaret Elmore Bridgewater, his daughter and son-in-law, Kim and Josh McAdams, his two granddaughters, Torrie McAdams and Jillian McAdams, a sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Nancy and W.A. Baker of Frisco, TX, and brother-in-law, Don Baldes of Carlinville, IL and three nephews, Scott Baldes of New Orleans, LA, Derek Baker of Ipswich, MA and Jeff Baker of Dubai, UAE. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ted and Leona Bridgewater, a brother, Harlan Leon Bridgewater, his son, Brett Eric Bridgewater, and sister-in-law, Penny Baldes.

Visitation will be held Friday, March 24, 2023 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. with funeral services to follow at 11:00 a.m. at the Shields-Bishop Funeral Home in Greenfield, IL. Burial will follow at Witt Cemetery in Rockbridge, IL. Memorials may be made to the GNW Girls Softball Team or the Greenfield High School Trap Team.

The Shields-Bishop Funeral Home in Greenfield, IL is assisting family with arrangements. Please leave a condolence or memory at shields-bishopfh.com

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