M.T. Buster Bridges, 96, died Friday, Aug. 3, 2007, at Memorial Mission Hospital.

He was a native and lifelong resident of Haywood County and was the son of the late James Thomas and Sarah Miller Bridges. He was also preceded in death by two sisters, Mae Bridges and Elizabeth Albright and a brother, Henry Y. Bridges.

He was co-owner and publisher of The Waynesville Mountaineer for 48 years retiring in 1978. Buster was a very active member of Waynesville First Baptist Church and was a former deacon and deacon chairman.

He was past president of the Waynesville Lions Club and was a member of the Civil Air Patrol, the North Carolina State Guard, the Toastmasters Club and past president of N.C. Mechanical Conference. He loved flying, fishing, traveling and most of all, he lived life to the fullest.

He is survived by his wife of 74 years, Edith C. Bridges; a daughter, Shirley Ezell and her husband, Don of Waynesville; a son, Charles Bridges and his wife, Anne of the Crabtree community; six grandchildren, Donna Moody, Susan DelBene, Michael Ezell, Gregory Bridges, Steven Bridges and Melanie Mason; and nine great-grandchildren.

A funeral service will be held at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 7, in the sanctuary of First Baptist Church of Waynesville with the Revs. Dr. Robert Prince, T.E. Robinette and Jack C. Bishop officiating. Burial will follow at Garrett-Hillcrest Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 1 until 2:45 p.m. prior to the service in the Chapel of First Baptist Church of Waynesville.

Serving as pallbearers will be Don Ezell, Michael Ezell, Gregory Bridges, Steven Bridges, Rob DelBene and Tom Mason. Honorary pallbearers will be members of his Sunday School class.

Memorials may be made to Find Us Faithful Fund or Roofing Fund, First Baptist Church of Waynesville, P.O. Box 690, Waynesville, NC 28786.

For those who desire, an on-line memorial register is available at Obituaries at www.wellsfuneralhome.com
Published: The Enterprise Mountaineer