1944-2024
Arlie Edward Bridges, 80, of Belfast, Arkansas, passed away peacefully at home on August 25, 2024. He was born on May 31, 1944, in Hot Springs to Arlie Franklin Bridges and Gussie Chunn Bridges Hignight.
Known for his sense of humor, Arlie was outgoing and always had a good joke to share. He especially loved children and would do anything to get a baby to smile. Arlie loved fishing and had many fond memories at Lake Hamilton. Creative and handy, he could figure out how to do just about anything. Arlie enjoyed woodworking and “piddling” in his shop, crafting unique treasures from anything he could find, often using what others would call junk. You could often find him riding around on his big Kubota tractor, giving the grandchildren rides, helping out around the farm, and yelling at the cats to get off of the porch.
Arlie graduated from Lakeside High School in Hot Springs in 1962 and went on to attend Arkansas Technical and Vocational School, earning a degree in auto body repair. He later taught this trade at the local Vo-Tech school in Hot Springs. After teaching, he worked as an autobody repair technician for many years. Arlie spent his younger life in Hot Springs, where he married Rita Bridges in 1987. They moved with their young daughter to Pindall, Arkansas in 1993, where they homesteaded and built a home from scratch. While in Pindall, they opened and ran the Goat Gap Trading Post. They later moved their home and business to Valley Springs, Arkansas. Finally settling in Belfast, Arkansas to be closer to family.
He is survived by his siblings; Joe Bridges, Vivian Milholen, and Mike Hignight; his wife Rita Bridges, daughter, Nikki Holloway and stepchildren, Rhonda Fiser, Renay Fiser. He has many beloved grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his infant son, Arlie Bridges Jr., stepson Shane Fiser, and brother, Bud Bridges.
An intimate celebration of life will be held at a later date. The family is not accepting flowers or donations at this time.
