A resident of the Ava community since 1995 Charles Ballard Bruce III, son of Charles Ballard Bruce Jr. and Dessie Mae (Kellem) Bruce, was born on Sept. 1, 1938, in Anderson, S.C., and departed this life on Aug. 12, 2006 in Springfield, at the age of 67.
Charles was affectionately called “Chuck” by his friends and family. Chuck was a resident of the Ava community since 1995. He was a retired State Peace Officer with the Dept. of Corrections in California.
On Sept. 23, 1976, Chuck and Marian Sue (Hull) Smith were united in marriage in Las Vegas, Nev. Chuck was a veteran and served his country with the U.S. Navy from 1953 to 1961. Chuck also had served with the Highway Patrol in San Francisco, Calif., for eight years. He had AA and BA degrees in criminal law, and was also a paralegal. He held a P.O.S.T. commission for California Correctional Peace Officers and eighth degree black belt in Subato, in Indo China. He was a correctional sergeant at California Institute for Men for 10 years and past president of California Correctional Peace Officers Association of California Institute for men, Chino, Calif. He has been a member of that union for 20 yrs. Chuck was a member of the Ava Full Gospel Church and also had supported the New Life Family Worship in Mansfield.
Chuck was preceded in death by his father, Charles B. Bruce, Jr.
He is survived by his wife, Sue of the home in Ava; his mother, Dessie Mae Bruce, Malvern, Pa.; four children and their spouses, Kim J. Bruce, Springfield, Tammy V. and Ron May, Fair Play, Michael D.A. and Michelle Bruce, Mtn. Grove, and Kenneth E. and Shallan Bruce, Ava; eight grandchildren, Brittany, Stephanie, Michael Jr., Daniel, Aubrey, Little Brittany, Tailer and Cody; three great-grandchildren, Isaac, Taylor and Dillon; three sisters, Barbara and husband, JC. Snyder, Macon, Ga., Patsy Kay, Warner Robins, Ga., and Gloria Gallian and husband, George, of Phoenixville, Pa.; many nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.
Services were held at 4 p.m. Wednesday, August 16, at the Clinkingbeard Chapel with Pastors Mark Schuster and Doyne “Butch” McCleary officiating.
Interment was in the Denney Cemetery with full military honors by American Legion Post 112 and VFW 5993. The family requests memorials to the American Lung Assoc., American Heart Assoc. or American Diabetes Assoc. Services were conducted by Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava.
