Troy Dean Bridges

Troy Dean Bridges went to be with his Lord and Savior on September 19th, 2023.  He joined his wife of almost 70 years, Polly, who passed away just the month before. Troy Bridges and his twin brother were born in Cleveland County, North Carolina on June 7, 1931.  

Troy helped his parents around the farm while growing up. He played baseball while attending Gardner Webb Junior College where he met the love of his life – Polly Jane Williams.   He continued his education at Appalachian Teacher’s College and pitched for their baseball team.  He and Polly were married shortly before he reported for military service.  He served in the Army 14th AAA Battalion from 1955-1956 in Washington DC.   

Troy was a master chemistry teacher and taught high school chemistry in Fairfax, Virginia, Charlotte, NC, and at Spartanburg High School in Spartanburg, SC before retiring in 1984. Shortly after, he was elected to the school board.  He also taught science courses at many of the colleges in the area. Throughout his teaching career he encouraged students to explore science with many students going on to earn recognition for their work. He saved their pictures and accolades, but rarely spoke of his own recognition in the educational field. 

Troy was very active at Morningside Baptist Church Baptist where he served as a deacon, Sunday school teacher, RA leader, builder, bus driver, and prayer warrior.  Troy was also an active lifetime member of the Spartanburg Breakfast Optimist club. He was involved in many local ministries such as Total Ministries, HALTER, prison ministry at Tyger River, Spartanburg Transparent Men, and Children’s Cancer Partners. He cared for homeless families and worked hard to help establish the former Spartanburg Hospitality Interfaith Network. He was instrumental in establishing Bible education classes in the school with School-Time Ministries carrying on this legacy.  

Troy loved his family very much, was an encourager of everyone he met, and a faithful servant of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He is survived by his son, Galen Bridges, daughter and her spouse, Rita & Don Duncan, grandson and his spouse, Chris & Jennie Quinn and his great grandsons, Wilson and Carter Quinn, and his brother and his spouse, Robert & Bonnie Bridges, and his sister-in-law, Frances Bridges (Coy’s wife).  The rest of his family is celebrating in heaven with him – his great grand-daughter, Emma Quinn, his mom and dad, Lillian & Thomas Bridges, his twin brother, Coy, his brothers and their spouses, Kirk & Ruth Bridges, and Hugh & Dot Bridges, and his sisters and their spouses, Margaret & Tom Hamrick, Betty & Boyd Howell, and Zoe & CB Scism.

The family appreciates the love and care provided by Agape Hospice as well as their dedicated in-home caregivers, Linda Stacey, Samantha Hawkins, Mary Valverde, Patty Hollifield, Yasmine Cruz, Rosa Hamet, Marilyn Greenwald, and Ericca Greenwald. 
The family will receive friends Saturday, September 23rd, from 11 AM until 12:15 at Morningside Baptist Church, 897 South Pine Street, Spartanburg, SC 29302.  His funeral service will follow at the church at 12:30 pm with interment at Greenlawn Memorial Gardens at 2 PM. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Agape Hospice (hpcfoundation.org), Morningside Baptist Church (msidechurch.org), Total Ministries of Spartanburg (totalministries.org), or Children’s Cancer Partners (childrenscancerpartners.org).