Robert W. Bruce
May 21, 1921 ~ January 2, 2025
Robert “Bob” Bruce, 103, passed away Thursday, January 2, 2025, in Wichita, KS.
Bob was born in Wichita to the late Herbert M. and Rose M. (Porter) Bruce.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Elaine I.; his parents; brother, Richard; sister, Carolyn (Bruce) Carnahan; brother, Herbert.
He will be deeply missed and is survived by his son, James E. Bruce, Sr.; daughter, Patricia A. (Raymond) Bruce-Novak; grandson, James E. Bruce, Jr.; and extended family. He is also survived by his four great-grandchildren, Quentin J., Pyper L., Tytan E., and Brook-lynne E. Bruce, who he was so proud of and loved dearly, and their mothers, who were special to him.
Always a Wichita resident, he graduated from Wichita High School East. Bob enlisted in the horse cavalry in 1942 and graduated from O.C.S. in March, 1943. He remained at Ft. Riley, KS as a troop training officer, until the last horse cavalry trainees completed the program. At the end of WW II, 1st Lt. Robert Bruce, was with the 1st combat unit sent to Hiroshima after the atomic bomb, and by ferry to the island of Etajima, home of the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy, where he received surrender of blueprints of vast caves holding Japanese weapons of war. He was involved in many other historical events during the war as well.
On June 16, 1946, he wed his loving wife, Elaine I. Noll, of Peabody, Kansas. Management in sales and marketing fulfilled his career needs. Lifetime interests included equestrian activities with his family; and a special interest was polo, in earlier years. He was a devoted husband and a thoughtful, caring father, with unconditional love and support of his children and families. Sharp and robust until his final days, he was always happiest when involved with and enjoying his family.
Visitation will be from 5:00 - 7:00 pm, Wednesday, January 22, 2025, at Downing & Lahey East Mortuary. Private Family Graveside Service will take place.
A memorial has been established with Disabled American Veterans (DAV), 3015 S. George Washington Blvd., Wichita, KS 67210.
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Bob was one of the most amazing people. He was the most proper of roses boys. I remember one day we had a saddle leather break and I told him we needed to order one. He proceeded to go buy the leather and made a new one without even a pattern. Instead of stitching he used copper rivets on the leather. He told me if it works for Levi’s then I guess it will do for coppers saddle. You see copper was his old saddlebred lease horse. He was a champion like Bob in every way. He was in a horse trailer accident and was dragged over 40 feet on concrete. Any other horse would’ve died. The scars showed on his sides forever. The bruces nursed that horse to life.And Bob used to sneak that horse treats just because. Sometimes when I feel life has dragged me around that like copper I just need to be tough like copper. Unlike most horses copper liked cocacola oranges lemons and even grapefruit. But his favorites were Bob treats, an apple flavored grain pelleted cookie for horses. So to me Bob will for ever be rivots and horse cookies. Home on the range was one of his favorite songs. His favorite pastimes were picking apples and asparagus. He was a champion saddle horseman like all the family. Nationally ranked in the saddlebred world. His cavalry horses were nationally famous as well. Long live the memory of rivots and horse cookies.