Lawrence "Larry" Bridgewater

Lawrence Bridgewater, 90, formerly of York, IL, passed away on October 9, 2026.

He was born September 27, 1936, in York, the son of Virgil Bridgewater and Martha Daugherty Pine. Larry graduated from Hutsonville High School in 1954 and enjoyed playing basketball there as well as a number of other sports in later years, including handball. Larry enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1955 and served on active duty until 1959 at Wethersfield AFB, England, and Forbes AFB, Topeka, KS.

Larry enjoyed riding motorcycles his whole life and raced on the weekends at different scramble events in Kansas during the 1960’s while working for Santa Fe and General Electric, as well as owning a motorcycle shop in Ottawa for a short time. In 1969, he graduated from Barber College and began a 20-year career as a barber in Topeka. He retired in 1998 from Colmery-O’Neil VA Medical Center and began his 15,000-hour volunteer service to veterans there. He was always ready to lend a helping hand or a friendly word to anyone.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents, his wife of 39 years, Ruth Kelly, Michael Bussart, and his sisters, Elaine White Stevenson, Kathleen Rollings, and Edith York.

He is survived by David (Ellen) Bridgewater, Cathy (Louis) Bracken, 3 grandsons, and 6 great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, at Campanella and Stewart Funeral Home, 4370 Salzer Rd, Wamego, KS.

In lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions payable to the Salvation Army; these can be left in care of Campanella Stewart Funeral Home, P.O. Box 48, Wamego, KS 66547.