Emmett Melvin (Mel) Bridwell 1922 - 2012 Mel was born in Seminole County, OK in 1922. Mel's family moved to Visalia in 1931 where he attended school. Mel graduated from Visalia Union High School in 1940. Mel than went to College of the Sequoia, and he also enlisted in the Army Air Corps Cadet Program.
In 1942, Mel married his life long love, June Jennings. They were married until June's death in 2004. Mel became a B-26 Pilot and flew 28 combat missions with the 9th Air Force 386 Bomb Group. He also flew 27 combat cargo missions, all in the European Theatre. Mel returned home to Visalia after the war, but stayed on Active Reserves until 1960.
Mel began a career in the Cotton Industry, and retired as the District Manager for the Central Valley, for Anderson Clayton in 1987. Upon retiring, Mel enjoyed traveling, dirt bike riding, and flying with family and friends, Alen and Bea Tootle and Harold and Gerry King. Mel is preceded in death by his mother and father, Naomi and Emmett Bridwell; his brother, Bob Bridwell; his sister-in-law, Gerry King; and his beloved wife, Marion "June" Bridwell; and his great granddaughter, Taylor Wiggins.
Mel is survived by daughter and son-in-law, Marsha and Don Wiggins; two grandsons, David Wiggins, and Michael Wiggins and his wife Lori; great grandchildren, Tylor, Cody, Tommy, Tegan, Damion and Jacob; niece, Penny Lewis; nephews, Mike King and his wife Karen, Rick Bridwell and his wife Fleeda, and Bob Bridwell; and brother-in-law, Harold King. Funeral services will be held at Visalia Public Cemetery on Wednesday, July 18, 2012 at 9:30 a.m. with Pastor Mark Wilson officiating. For additional information, please contact Basham Funeral Care at 661-873-8200. Basham Funeral Care
--published in Visalia Times-Delta and Tulare Advance-Register July 14, 2012
In 1942, Mel married his life long love, June Jennings. They were married until June's death in 2004. Mel became a B-26 Pilot and flew 28 combat missions with the 9th Air Force 386 Bomb Group. He also flew 27 combat cargo missions, all in the European Theatre. Mel returned home to Visalia after the war, but stayed on Active Reserves until 1960.
Mel began a career in the Cotton Industry, and retired as the District Manager for the Central Valley, for Anderson Clayton in 1987. Upon retiring, Mel enjoyed traveling, dirt bike riding, and flying with family and friends, Alen and Bea Tootle and Harold and Gerry King. Mel is preceded in death by his mother and father, Naomi and Emmett Bridwell; his brother, Bob Bridwell; his sister-in-law, Gerry King; and his beloved wife, Marion "June" Bridwell; and his great granddaughter, Taylor Wiggins.
Mel is survived by daughter and son-in-law, Marsha and Don Wiggins; two grandsons, David Wiggins, and Michael Wiggins and his wife Lori; great grandchildren, Tylor, Cody, Tommy, Tegan, Damion and Jacob; niece, Penny Lewis; nephews, Mike King and his wife Karen, Rick Bridwell and his wife Fleeda, and Bob Bridwell; and brother-in-law, Harold King. Funeral services will be held at Visalia Public Cemetery on Wednesday, July 18, 2012 at 9:30 a.m. with Pastor Mark Wilson officiating. For additional information, please contact Basham Funeral Care at 661-873-8200. Basham Funeral Care
--published in Visalia Times-Delta and Tulare Advance-Register July 14, 2012
Emmett Melvin (Mel) Bridwell 1922 - 2012 Mel was born in Seminole County, OK in 1922. Mel's family moved to Visalia in 1931 where he attended school. Mel graduated from Visalia Union High School in 1940. Mel than went to College of the Sequoia, and he also enlisted in the Army Air Corps Cadet Program.
In 1942, Mel married his life long love, June Jennings. They were married until June's death in 2004. Mel became a B-26 Pilot and flew 28 combat missions with the 9th Air Force 386 Bomb Group. He also flew 27 combat cargo missions, all in the European Theatre. Mel returned home to Visalia after the war, but stayed on Active Reserves until 1960.
Mel began a career in the Cotton Industry, and retired as the District Manager for the Central Valley, for Anderson Clayton in 1987. Upon retiring, Mel enjoyed traveling, dirt bike riding, and flying with family and friends, Alen and Bea Tootle and Harold and Gerry King. Mel is preceded in death by his mother and father, Naomi and Emmett Bridwell; his brother, Bob Bridwell; his sister-in-law, Gerry King; and his beloved wife, Marion "June" Bridwell; and his great granddaughter, Taylor Wiggins.
Mel is survived by daughter and son-in-law, Marsha and Don Wiggins; two grandsons, David Wiggins, and Michael Wiggins and his wife Lori; great grandchildren, Tylor, Cody, Tommy, Tegan, Damion and Jacob; niece, Penny Lewis; nephews, Mike King and his wife Karen, Rick Bridwell and his wife Fleeda, and Bob Bridwell; and brother-in-law, Harold King. Funeral services will be held at Visalia Public Cemetery on Wednesday, July 18, 2012 at 9:30 a.m. with Pastor Mark Wilson officiating. For additional information, please contact Basham Funeral Care at 661-873-8200. Basham Funeral Care
--published in Visalia Times-Delta and Tulare Advance-Register July 14, 2012
In 1942, Mel married his life long love, June Jennings. They were married until June's death in 2004. Mel became a B-26 Pilot and flew 28 combat missions with the 9th Air Force 386 Bomb Group. He also flew 27 combat cargo missions, all in the European Theatre. Mel returned home to Visalia after the war, but stayed on Active Reserves until 1960.
Mel began a career in the Cotton Industry, and retired as the District Manager for the Central Valley, for Anderson Clayton in 1987. Upon retiring, Mel enjoyed traveling, dirt bike riding, and flying with family and friends, Alen and Bea Tootle and Harold and Gerry King. Mel is preceded in death by his mother and father, Naomi and Emmett Bridwell; his brother, Bob Bridwell; his sister-in-law, Gerry King; and his beloved wife, Marion "June" Bridwell; and his great granddaughter, Taylor Wiggins.
Mel is survived by daughter and son-in-law, Marsha and Don Wiggins; two grandsons, David Wiggins, and Michael Wiggins and his wife Lori; great grandchildren, Tylor, Cody, Tommy, Tegan, Damion and Jacob; niece, Penny Lewis; nephews, Mike King and his wife Karen, Rick Bridwell and his wife Fleeda, and Bob Bridwell; and brother-in-law, Harold King. Funeral services will be held at Visalia Public Cemetery on Wednesday, July 18, 2012 at 9:30 a.m. with Pastor Mark Wilson officiating. For additional information, please contact Basham Funeral Care at 661-873-8200. Basham Funeral Care
--published in Visalia Times-Delta and Tulare Advance-Register July 14, 2012
Inscription
BRIDWELL
EMMETT MELVIN
AUG. 11, 1922 -- JUL. 9, 2012
B-26 PILOT WWII
A 65 YEAR LOVE AFFAIR
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