Mr. Raymond Douglas Bridges, age 72, of Dalton, Georgia, departed this life Friday, March 28, 2014 at Memorial Health Care in Chattanooga, Tennessee, after several months of declining health. Douglas was born January 6, 1942 in Dalton, Georgia. He was preceded in death by his father, William "Curly" Bridges and his mother, Hazel Walters. Douglas was a 1959 graduate of Dalton High School and worked for General Telephone as a field engineer for over thirty-two years.

He is survived by his wife of fifty-one and half years, Vera Tarvin Bridges of the residence; son, Greg Bridges and his fiance, Felicia Cantrell; daughter and son-in-law, Sharon and Kelly Martin; grandchildren and spouses, Matthew and Ashley Bridges, Jill and James Nichols, Brandi and Jason Chastine, Jessica and Brandon Stokes; brothers, Ronnie Bridges of California, and Terry Bridges of Florida; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Opal Bohannon, Evelyn and Ronnie Carr of Lafayette, GA, Maxine Foutz of Tunnel Hill, GA, Keith Tarvin of Villanow, GA; several nieces and nephews.

Graveside services will be held Monday, March 31, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. at Whitfield Memorial Gardens, 710 W. Cuyler St., Dalton, GA, 30720, with Pastor Robby Dunn officiating. Pallbearers will be Wayne Aldridge, Mel Hughes, Jerome Pritchard, Jerry "Arvin" Manning, Bill Speights and Fletcher Young. The family will receive friends at Ponders Melrose Chapel from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Sunday and after 11:00 a.m. Monday until the service hour.

The family request that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the Conasauga Kidney Care, 1506 Broadrick Dr., Dalton, GA, 30720 or to the American Heart Association, 519 E. 4th Street, Chattanooga, TN, 37403.

Arrangements by Ponders Funeral Home, 138 Melrose Drive, Dalton, Georgia; 706 226 4002. "Funerals, Cremations, Cemeteries and Florists"