Frances L. Bridges, 87, of Waterloo, died Sunday, May 31, 2009, at Cedar Valley Hospice Home of pulmonary fibrosis.

She was born Dec. 11, 1921, in Waterloo, daughter of Oscar C. and Dorothy Ward Schmitt. She married Leonard Ernest Widdel on Oct. 18, 1941, in Lancaster, Mo. He died Oct. 30, 1992. She married Nelson “Dick” Bridges on Nov. 4, 1994, in Hudson.

Survived by her husband; two daughters, Rebecca (Jim) DeLong and Wanda (Dan) Steffen, both of Dunkerton; three sons, Jesse (Kathy) Widdel of Waterloo, James (Shari) Widdel of Elk Run Heights and David (Melissa) Widdel of Dewar; seven grandchildren, Scott (Susie) DeLong, Renae McLaury, Rachel Trumbley, Tara (Jason) Merrifield, Casey (Carrie) Schares, Corey (Alicia) Wilson and Jenna Widdel; six stepgrandchildren, Jessica (Marcus) Peters, Mandy Steffen, Monique Armstrong, Nicholas Armstrong, Dana Cox and Steve Sparks; 14 great-grandchildren; a great-great-grandchild; two brothers, Jim (Darlys) Schmitt of Independence and Tom (Janice) Schmitt of Waterloo; and a sister, Margaret (Lloyd) Harp of Waterloo.

Preceded in death by a grandson, Job Widdel.