Dr. Richard Joseph “Joe” Bridwell went home to Jesus on August 16, 2022 at age 84, in Springfield, Tennessee.
Joe was born on January 26, 1938 to Frank and Anno Bridwell in Alice, Texas. After graduating from Abilene High School in 1956, he went on to earn four degrees. He received two bachelor’s degrees in mathematics and geology in 1962 from the University of Texas, Austin. He was then commissioned as a Naval Officer and served our country in the Naval Data Processing Center in Washington DC for three years. He continued his geological studies and received his Master’s degree from Colorado School of Mines in 1968. He went on to receive his doctorate from the University of Utah in geology. He lived in New Mexico until moving to Tennessee to be cared for by his daughter.
Joe loved the outdoors, geology, photography, and genealogy. He spent many years and traveled extensively to learn about and document the Bridwell and Brown family histories and wrote a book on those histories. He traveled around the southwest taking pictures of nature and his favorite area to photograph were The Bisti Badlands. He won several awards in New Mexico for his photography.
Dr. Bridwell was predeceased by his brother, Robert Bridwell, and both his parents. Dr. Bridwell is survived by his children and their spouses: Donna Christine Powley (Greg), Dirk Nikolaus Bridwell (Louise Hollesen), Erin Thais Van Meter (Thomas) and three grandchildren Kylie and Madison Van Meter and August Bridwell.
Dr. Bridwell’s celebration of life will be held in Greenbrier, TN at the Van Meter home on October 15, 2022.
Austin & Bell Funeral Home in Greenbrier is in charge of these arrangements.
