William Winfield Bridges

William Winfield Bridges

February 28, 1949 – January 22, 2024

William (Bill) Winfield Bridges, 74, of Lehi, Utah, passed away peacefully on January 22, 2024, surrounded by family. He had battled dementia for several years, and after the loss of his sweetheart, Elaine, in November of 2021, he declined more rapidly.

Bill was born on February 28, 1949, in Coffeyville, Kansas, to Robert Sheldon Bridges and Jeanne Ellen Tourney. Bob and Jeanne then moved to the San Francisco Bay area, where they remained and raised their family. After high school, Bill attended the Air Force Academy where he was on their soccer team and played drums in the band. 

Bill was a gifted drummer, and in the late 60s, he joined the Burgundy Street Singers, a group that toured the country performing at various venues including The Carol Burnett Show, Caesar’s Palace, opening for the Beach Boys, The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, and the Red Skelton Hour.

Bill met the love of his life, Elaine, while in the band. Elaine was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It didn’t take long for Bill to get baptized and become a member as well. They married on April 3, 1972. A year later, they decided to settle down and raise a family, so he quit the band and got a job as a bank teller in Southern California.

Bill was an organized, intelligent, people person who rapidly rose from teller to vice president of a savings and loan. He spent the next twenty-five years working at various savings and loans in the Southern California area.

Gaining an education was important to Bill. Having not been able to finish his degree before starting his family, he began a program through BYU where he would spend a year studying and doing assignments and then attend BYU for a week in the summer for the culminating classes and exams. This was a fun family vacation four years in a row, resulting in priceless memories and his bachelor’s degree.

In 1998, as the savings and loan industry began to decline, Bill and Elaine moved their family to Provo, Utah, where he was hired as the general manager of Seven Peaks Water Park. In 1999, after his second season at Seven Peaks, he was asked to oversee the building of the Museum of Ancient Life at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi, UT. He enjoyed this job, and his children and grandchildren enjoyed the lifetime pass he received to Thanksgiving Point.

In 2003, Bill began working for Utah Valley University. He was an Assistant Dean in the School of Humanities, a Director of Major Gifts, and the Director of Development, until his difficulties with memory required him to retire in 2018. During his years at UVU, Bill earned a Master of Public Administration degree from Brigham Young University.

Bill loved his children and grandchildren. His wife and family were the most important parts of his life. He supported them in their various activities by attending, cheering, and encouraging. His dad jokes were mostly puns, but were actually quite funny. His kids and grandkids loved to joke with him, and his sense of humor remained intact even in his late stages of dementia.

Bill loved people! His kids were always surprised at how many people he knew and knew him. He had connections in so many places. He loved to help others—he gave advice, helped find jobs for those searching, and volunteered his time to anyone in need. He continued entertaining people with his drumming skills throughout his life. He was always willing to “jam” with anyone. He even taught modified percussion lessons at his assisted living home.

Bill was an active member of the LDS church throughout his life and served in many church callings. His favorite, and last one, was teaching primary with Elaine.

Bill is preceded in death by his mother and father, his wife, Elaine, his brothers Robert and Ernie, and his son-in-law, Alan Bailey. He is survived by his brother Tom Bridges, his sister Carol Koepp (Steve), his brother David Bridges (Charlene), his eleven children: Susan Potter (Dwight), Karen Steele (Erwin), Lisa Nicholas (Ken), Laura Bailey, Holly Barch (David), Tiffany Wardell (Bruce), Melissa Parent (Kevin), Megan Lewis (Jimmy), Spencer Bridges (Katie Lee), Chelsea Brunner, and Kelly Rhea (Jeff), 56 grandchildren, and 53 great-grandchildren. 

Funeral services will be held Thursday, January 25, 2024, at 11:00 am at the LDS church building at 1530 West Pheasant Pointe Dr., Lehi, UT. There will be no public viewing.

Condolences for the family may be expressed on this page. 

For those unable to attend the services they can be viewed by clicking HERE