BRUCE, Craig Allen

BEND – Craig Allen Bruce, 59, of Bend, died Oct. 4 at his home. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21, at the First Presbyterian Church, 230 N.E. 9th St., Bend. A reception will follow. A concluding Urn Committal Service with full military honors will be at 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 28, at Canyon City Cemetery. Mr. Bruce was born May 7, 1953, in John Day, to Ralph and Bradie (Laughlin) Bruce. In 1971, he graduated from McLoughlin Union High School in Milton-Freewater. He enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving in the Airborne Division and the “Old Guard,” the ceremonial unit for the Army. While serving in Washington, D.C., he met Joan Ulbricht of North Park, Ill. In May of 1976 they were married. After his honorable discharge, he attended Central Oregon Community College, graduating with a degree in forestry. In 1981, he re-enlisted in the Army, and flew helicopters and airplanes. He served in Desert Storm as a reconnaissance pilot out of the 207th Military Intelligence Brigade. In 1994, he retired from the Army as a chief warrant officer. He then worked as a helicopter pilot with Air Logistics in Fairbanks, Alaska, retiring from there in 2007. His passions in life, while growing up in Eastern Oregon, were fishing and hunting. Survivors include his wife of 36 years, Joan Bruce of Bend; sons, William (Danielle) Bruce, Jamie Bruce, and Steven (Sumer) Bruce; grandchildren, Nathan, James, Alaura, Colton, Makayla and Savannah; sisters, Sheila Bruce of John Day and Sandra (Gene) Rysdam of Elgin; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents. Memorial contributions may be made to Central Oregon Veterans Outreach, 117 NW Lafayette Ave., Bend, OR 97701, or Wounded Warrior Project, 4899 Belfort Rd., Suite 300, Jacksonville, FL 32256. Arrangements are under the care of Autumn Funerals of Bend, 61555 Parrell Rd., Bend, OR 97702. bluemountaineagle.com 16 October 2012