Bridget Ruth Sponsler of Leesburg, Virginia passed away on Wednesday, December 22nd 2021, after spending the day surrounded by adoring family.  Bridget was born on July 10, 1928 in Battle, England. She lived a remarkable 93 years, spending her childhood growing up in wartime England and Wales. At age 18, following World War II, Bridget immigrated to the United States in pursuit of a life of opportunity that post-war England couldn't offer at the time. She spent her first several years in America in New York City and countryside New Hampshire before beginning work in New Jersey at a job her visa sponsor had found her. Around this time, while going through the recruitment and application process to attend Northfield School for Girls, Bridget was introduced to Elizabeth Drake. "Aunty Lib" took over the role as Bridget's visa sponsor and guardian, and Bridget was able to continue the schooling that had stopped at age 12 in England. She would go on to receive scholarships to several universities, ultimately choosing to attend Simmons College where she was elected Student Body President in her senior year.

After graduating from Simmons College, Bridget began working in Boston at Harvard Business School and would soon meet the late George Sponsler while he was working at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Bridget and George were at a cocktail party when Bridget found George about to pour out his drink – "what a waste!" Bridget stated– and he instead offered it to her. They would marry in 1955 and celebrate over fifty years of marriage together.

As Bridget's family grew with the addition of her three children – Freda, Naomi and Curtis – their family of five traveled frequently back to several of the places Bridget enjoyed as a child and young adult in both England and the States. One of her favorite trips was to a Colorado dude ranch where she spent a week doing what she loved most – riding horses.  Bridget fell in love with Irish Setters after rescuing her first out in California and raised them for the better part of 40 years. She regularly showed the Setters in AKC dog shows on the east coast, often with Naomi and Freda's company.  Bridget had been known to say that she didn't anticipate living a long life – she had faced war as a child, a brain tumor as an adult, and both her parents had passed early in life – but instead, she lived a vivacious one filled with love, travel, and family. She was able to see one generation become four with the birth of her first great-granddaughter Kinsley. Those who knew Bridget in her ninety three years knew her to be resilient, remarkably kind, genuinely hilarious, and never one to miss a good time.

As the matriarch of the Sponsler Family, Bridget is survived by her three children: Freda (Chris) Ellinghaus, Naomi (Marty) Bechtold, and Curtis (Gaby Triana) Sponsler; her five grandchildren, Kyle (Katherine Scott) Jennings, Shannon (Chris) Talbert, Bridget Ann Bechtold, Aaron Sponsler, Alec Sponsler, seven step-grandchildren and a great-granddaughter. Bridget joins her husband, George Sponsler and her grandson, Bryant Bechtold in Heaven to watch over all those who love them.

Services will be at St. James' Episcopal Church, Leesburg, VA on Saturday, January 22nd at 11am (masks required) and will be live-streamed on the St. James' Episcopal Church Leesburg, VA Facebook page for anyone unable to attend in person. In lieu of flowers, donations in Bridget's memory may be directed to the Bryant Bechtold [Boat] Naming Fund through the Indianapolis Rowing Center, which can be found at https://indyrowing.org/donate/ . Bridget adored her late grandson – the feeling was mutual- and her family takes great comfort in knowing they are together once again.