Mildred Louise Bridges

Loving great-grandmother, grandmother, mother, and sister, Mildred L. Bridges passed away in Brenham, Texas, on February 1, 2026.

Mildred was born on March 6, 1923, in Brenham, Texas, to Eddie F. Kruse and Bertha Quebe Kruse. She attended Alamo School, Brenham High School, and received her B.A. from Blinn College. In October 1945, she married her loving husband of 67 years, Dr. Charles H. Bridges. For the next four years, she managed the office for Dr. Bridges Veterinary Clinic in Brenham until they decided to return to academic life at LSU, and then returned to Texas A&M.

Mildred cherished spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and was known by her family as mom, grandma, and ‘Gigi’. She was a crossword puzzle connoisseur, keen reader, and avid fly fisher, always managing to catch the biggest fish in the back of the drift boat when nobody was watching. Mildred was a passionate sports enthusiast who rarely missed watching a game of her favorite teams- the Houston Astros and Texas A&M Aggies.

Mildred was equally passionate about education and was a member and leader of several organizations, including the Auxiliary to the American Veterinary Medical Association, Texas A&M Women’s Auxiliary, Texas A&M Veterinary School Women’s Auxiliary, Lutheran Women of the Church, and PEO (Philanthropic Educational Organization).

Mildred and her husband, Charles, gave philanthropic support to Lutheran Social Services, helped establish Kruse Village retirement center, and provided financial support to the Kruse Center at Blinn College. In 2000, she helped establish the Charles H. and Mildred Kruse Bridges Endowed Chair in Veterinary Medical Education at Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine. In addition, she helped support the Kruse Centennial Chair in Ophthalmology at Baylor Scott & White Health in Temple. She and her husband were long -time members of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in College Station, where they financially supported a pastoral internship program for 10 years.

Mildred was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Charles H. Bridges; daughter, Charmille Bridges Tamulinas; parents, Eddie F. Kruse and Bertha Quebe Kruse; and siblings, Edwina Kruse, Bertha Spitzer, Ed Kruse, and Evelyn Ann Kruse.

She is survived by her brother, Howard (Verlin) Kruse; children, Gary Bridges (Kathy), Greg Bridges (Donna); son-in-law, Stacey Tamulinas; grandchildren, Madison Bridges, Eric Bridges (Lexie), and Katerina Bridges; and great-grandchildren, Eloise and Eleanor Bridges.
The family would like a special thank you to Nina Reip and Selena Cherry for passionately caring for her most recently.

Visitation with the family will be at Brenham Memorial Chapel, February 6, 2026, from 5-7 PM.

A funeral service will be held on February 7, 2026, at 10 am at Brenham St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Pallbearers will be Paul Kruse, David Bockhorn, Bob Price, David Weynand, Bryan Gillespie, and Troy Kuecker.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church of College Station or St. Paul’s Lutheran in Brenham.

Services are in the care of Brenham Memorial Chapel, 2300 Stringer St., Brenham, Texas 77833. 979-836-3611. Condolences may be shared at www.brenhammemorialchapel.com.