Rev. Gene W. Bruce, 77, of Salisbury passed away April 6, 2020 at his residence.
Born in Rowan County on November 8, 1942, he was the son of the late Lillian Jacobs Bruce and Armond Glenn Bruce.
Pastor Bruce, as he was known, was a 1961 graduate of East Rowan High School. He graduated with an A.B. in Sociology from Lenoir-Rhyne College in 1965, and a Master of Divinity from the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in 1969. He was ordained on June 1, 1969 by the North Carolina Synod. Pastor Bruce served at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Crouse, NC from 1969-1974; Grace Lutheran Church in Newton, NC from 1974-1992; St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Salisbury, NC from 1992-2002; Mt. Hermon Lutheran Church and Sharon Lutheran Church in Statesville from 2002-2009; Interim Pastor at Amity Lutheran Church in Cleveland from 2009-2020. He served as Chaplain at Trinity Oaks in Salisbury and was recognized in 2019 for 50 years of ordained ministry with the ELCA. Pastor Bruce also served as Chaplain of the West Iredell Fire Department during his time in Statesville.
Pastor Bruce served as Protestant Chaplain at Philmont Boy Scout Ranch for the summers of 1978-1979; Protestant Chaplain for four National Boy Scout Jamborees, 1977, 1981, 1985, 1989; Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Board of North Carolina Synod; Lamb Award and the Silver Beaver Award by Boy Scouts of America, 1988, 1989. He received the Lenoir-Rhyne Alumni Distinguished Service Award in 1989 and the Catawba County Distinguished Public Service Award in 1992. Pastor Bruce served as President of the Eastern Catawba County Cooperative Christian Ministry; President, Catawba County Heart Association; President, Catawba County Council on Aging; President, Aging Advisory Council, Unifour Council of Governments; President, Adult Life Programs, Catawba County. He was a member of the Catawba Memorial Hospital Chaplaincy Committee and the Catawba County Nursing and Domiciliary Home Community Advisory Committee. Pastor Bruce served on the Board of Trustees for Lutheran Services for the Aging, currently Lutheran Services Carolinas, from 2004-2007. He also served on the Reunion Committee for East Rowan High School and was the Student Body President of East Rowan High School.
Pastor Bruce was known to break out in song at any given time and was dubbed, “The Singing Chaplain” at Trinity Oaks, often singing hymns or Christmas Carols all year long. It was not uncommon for him to interrupt his sermons with parts of a hymn or song that applied to the message. His joy was contagious and his love for people genuine.
An avid Tar Heel and Atlanta Braves fan, Pastor Bruce enjoyed watching sports on television and attended games, but especially enjoyed attending ball games of children and young adults in his congregations. He enjoyed travelling and visited every state in the nation with his wife Pat when she was alive and then with his companion Jackie.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Patricia Ann Moore Bruce; brothers, Robert Bruce, Rev. Jimmy Bruce, and Donald Bruce; brother-in-law, Arnold Young.
Those left to cherish his memory are his sons, David Bruce of Conover, Daniel Bruce (Erin) of Fairfield, CT; daughter, Elizabeth Bruce (Brian Patton) of Hickory; brothers, John Bruce (Ann) of Salisbury, Darvin Bruce (Lillian) of Greensboro; companion, Jacqulaine Stutts of Catawba, NC; sister-in-laws, Betty Young of Newport News, VA and Sue Bruce of Salisbury.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Faith Lutheran Church in Faith, NC on October 17, 2021 at 2:00 pm with the Rev. Jeff Lindsay officiating. Masks are strongly encouraged.
Memorials may be made to Faith Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 669, Faith, NC 28041 or Amity Lutheran Church, 1367 Ostwalt Amity Rd, Cleveland, NC 27013.
Lyerly Funeral Home is serving the Bruce family. Online condolences may be made at www.lyerlyfuneralhome.com.
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