Ben Bridges

Ben Bridges lived his life on his terms. While he peacefully passed away on Nov. 25 at his home with his family, he lived by the mantra, "I do what I want, when I want, and for how long I want." Few of us can say we can live our life that way. Ben was born in Jourdanton, TX on Sept. 8, 1939 to Granville and Mildred Bridges. He was the middle of three boys. That meant he had to fight for whatever he could get. That fighting spirit carried him throughout his life.

When he was 17, he joined the Air Force where he obtained his GED. Reading this, you would think he might of struggled in his life. He did not. His mother signed him up for the military because she knew that was his chance to make a good life. Ben was blessed with the ability to figure out anything. While in the service he was stationed in Austin, TX. That's where he met his future wife Barbara Janacek. They were married in 1960. A year later, they began their family welcoming their first daughter Debby into the family, then two years later Sherry, and adopting Michael in 1967. Ben heard about jobs opening on the police force in Oklahoma City, so he the family moved to Oklahoma while he began a career in law enforcement. He had been a butcher and a fireman for ten years in Austin, but the police force gave him an opportunity at a career.

While on the police force, Ben would often find himself in the newspaper. He had a knack for being photographed while on duty. It was a fun way for his family to see what his days were like on the force. The family moved to Bethel Acres, Oklahoma in the early 70s to live on five acres. This is where Ben's natural abilities shone. He could weld, he could farm, he could build a fence, he could fix a car. If it needed to be done, Ben could figure it out. He was an excellent marksman as a policeman. He entered shooting competitions with his daughter Debby, who might have been a better shot than Ben. The family would often shoot skeet in the back of their land or shoot pistols into the gun range Ben built on the back of the land. Money was always tight so Ben figured out how to provide experiences for the family which often meant weekends at the lake, swimming and fishing. Many times with other families providing life long memories for the kids.

As often happens, the kids grow, leave home, changing the family dynamic. Ben was able to retire in his early 50s. He and his second wife, Georgia, moved to Arkansas on 25 acres. True to his life, Ben built their home from scratch and later built an in ground cellar, a walking trail, and a gun range on the property. He reloaded his own shells, so you could shoot as much as you wanted. He remained an excellent marksman late into his life. One of his great joys was teaching his grandkids how to shoot. He and Georgia traveled to area lakes to spend time doing their favorite things, which was relaxing and enjoying nature. Ben had always toyed with being his own boss. After retirement he was finally able to live by his mantra of doing what he wants, when he wants. After Georgia passed, he moved back to Oklahoma on his daughter Sherry's land. He would shuttle between home and Debby's house in North Carolina.

Ben made the most of the opportunities he was given. With just a GED, he was able to rise in the ranks of the police department, eventually getting off the streets into the office working on the Felony Apprehension Unit. He worked to bring neighboring states on to the same computer system so if someone was arrested, local police departments in neighboring states could "run" the suspect into a computer and see if neighboring states had any warrants out for them. In his 23 year career, he helped countless officers get prepared for the job and worked to make the Oklahoma City police force a leader in the midwest.

Ben is preceded in death by his parents and his second wife Georgia. He is grieved by his daughter Debby Lamey, her husband Kenny, and their three kids and their family - Jessica Gonzalez (Lamey) , Victorrya Vasquez (Lamey), and Benjerman Lamey and her three grandchildren, Sherry White, her husband Kim, and her two kids Jackie and Rebecca, and her two grandchildren, and his son Mike, his wife Kenna and their son Michael. He also grieved by his first wife Barbara Cathey, his brothers Victor and Charles, as well as their families.

A graveside service will be held at the Six Mile Cemetery in Hatfield, Arkansas on Saturday, December 6, 2025 at 2:00 pm under the direction of Bowser Family Funeral Home in Mena, Arkansas.

Online Guestbook: www.bowserffh.com