William F. Bridges

William F. (Bill) Bridges, age 74, passed peacefully at home on Wednesday, November 26, 2025. Born January 13, 1951 in Indianapolis, Indiana, Bill was the son of W. Lloyd Bridges M.D. and Margaret Frazier Bridges. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Donna Riethmiller and her husband Steve, and his brother-in-law Rick Parker.

Bill married Anne (Didier) Bridges on November 22, 1975, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. They had just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.

He was a 1970 graduate of North Side High School. He attended Hillsdale College, where he was a member of the wrestling team and earned a B.A. from Indiana University–Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW). He returned to continue his education at Lutheran College of Nursing and began his professional career at Lutheran Hospital.

For over twenty years, Bill served as a hospice nurse with Parkview Home Health & Hospice, where he was known for his compassion, dedication, and clinical excellence. He was a Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Registered Nurse and was deeply respected by both colleagues and patients for the care and comfort he provided.

Upon retirement, Bill volunteered at St. Anne's Home. He also served as the parish nurse at St. Peter's Catholic Church, where he was actively involved in parish life and was a member of the Knights of Columbus.

A lifelong athlete, Bill trained for and competed in numerous triathlons and marathons and shared his love of sport by coaching the Central YMCA swim team. He was happiest with a fishing pole in hand or tending to his gardens. He helped to create and maintain many beautiful gardens in both his Fort Wayne and Bonita Springs neighborhoods. In recent years, he and his wife, Anne, enjoyed winters in Bonita Springs, Florida, where Bill developed an interest in pickleball and golf. Back home, he became a proud member of the Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Senior Golf League.

Bill is survived by his wife of 50 years, Anne; their three children, Sarah (John) Notarianni, Lisa (John) Leyendecker, and William (Andrea) Bridges; 13 grandchildren, Joseph, Gianna, Maria and Margaret Notarianni and Maximilian, Anastasia, Solanus, Cecilia, Lucy, Tryphaena, Clement, Cassian, and Silas Leyendecker; brother Robert (Denise) Bridges; sisters Barb Parker, Karen Schlatter, and Meribeth (Al) Figel.

Bill will be remembered for his humor, strength, and devotion to his family, friends, and patients. His legacy will continue to touch the lives of all who had the privilege of knowing him.

The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30am Saturday December 6, 2025, in St Jude Catholic Church, 2155 Randallia Dr. with visitation from 9:30-10:30am in the church. Visitation is also from 4-7pm Friday at Divine Mercy Funeral Home, 3500 Lake Ave. with the Rosary at 7:00pm. Burial in Catholic Cemetery. Memorials may be provided to the W. Lloyd Bridges Scholarship Fund of Ivy Tech Fort Wayne, online at https://engage.ivytech.edu/s/giving. Checks can be sent likewise, payable to Ivy Tech Foundation, noting campus and gift designation on the memo line, to Fort Wayne Ivy Tech Campus / W. Lloyd Bridges Scholarship Fund, 3800 N. Anthony Blvd., Fort Wayne, IN 46805, or to Parkview Home Health and Hospice, c/o Parkview Foundation of Allen Co., online at https://Parkview.com/foundations, or by mail to 1900 Carew St, Unit 6, Fort Wayne, IN 46805.

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