Billie Ruth (Hardcastle) Bridgers

Billie Ruth Bridgers, 91, of Oxford, KS went to be with the Lord on Saturday, August 20, 2022.

Daughter of William and Goldie (Merritt) Hardcastle was born October 19, 1930 in Altus, OK. Billie graduated from Oxford High School in 1948 and graduated from nursing school in 1951 in Winfield. In 1956, she moved to Chicago. She met Don Bridgers and they married in September of 1956, they raised their two children in Oxford, KS. The couple later divorced.

Billie had worked at William Newton Memorial Hospital and worked at Riverview Manor for 30 years. In 1985, she started volunteering at Winfield Correctional Facility teaching the Word of God to those incarcerated. She later became a Chaplin. In 1994, Billie was named volunteer of the year by the Governor and by the Kansas Department of Corrections. In 2018, she was named volunteer of the year again at the Winfield Correctional Facility. Billie was a member of the Ministry Team for Working Men of Christ, visiting the incarcerated.

She is preceded in death by her parents, William and Goldie Hardcastle, sisters Dorothy Wiley, Helen Wise, Mary Sundberg, and Bessie Hardcastle Hanff. Survivors include her daughter Pam Watts (Jon) of Marysville, WA, and son Pat Bridgers of Oxford, KS; grandchildren Eric Watts of Everett, WA, Lindsay Doty (Joshua) of Seattle, WA; great-grandchildren Ethan Watts, Tyson Gonzales, Colby Watts, Annabelle Watts, Aden Doty, and Huck Doty, all of Washington state; as well as many nieces and nephews, many beloved friends and all those known to call her “Mom Billie.”

Billie’s family invites friends to a celebration of life service at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, August 27, 2022 at the Oxford Christian Church. There will be a private committal service at the Oxford Cemetery, following the reception. Memorial contributions may be made to the Working Men of Christ Ministries, donations may be left in the care of the Oxford Funeral Service – PO Box 123, Oxford, KS 67119.

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