Wallace Bruce

Wallace Lee Bruce, 86, of Pampa, passed away on Monday, May 4, 2020 in Pampa.

Services will be 2:00 PM Saturday, May 9, 2020 at Briarwood Church with Rev. Lynn Hancock, pastor, and Rev. Lakan Mariano officiating. Burial will follow in Fairview Cemetery under the direction of Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors. The service will be live streamed at https://www.carmichael-whatley.com/page/live-streaming.

Wallace Lee Bruce was born on May 5, 1933 in a dirt floor house in the city of Santa Rosa, New Mexico. His family later moved to Borger, until they finally settled in Pampa, where he called home for the remainder of his life.

He met the love of his life at the age of 15, playing Winkum at a church function. According to the rules of the game, boys must be quick enough to catch the girl before they can escape to an empty chair elsewhere in the circle. “I sure held on to my partner,” he once recalled, “and I still haven’t let her go.”

Graduating from Pampa High School in 1951, Wallace married Doreen Forde later that fall on September 2,1951. He drove a truck for his father’s moving company, with his wife by his side for every single mile, until they were able to buy Bruce & Sons a decade later.

As the city continued to grow and prosper, Wallace and Doreen welcomed families and businesses to the community. Their business ventures also began to expand, including opening up a golf course on Kentucky Street, and eventually operating several oil companies, highlighted by the successful WBD Operating Company. He served on a variety of local advisory boards and held membership in multiple service organizations. Ever the entrepreneur, Mr. Bruce continued developing new ideas and business concepts, even obtaining US patents for various inventions very late in his life.

After a prolonged health battle, Wallace Bruce returned home to his Lord on May 4, 2020 at the age of 86 years, 365 days—just one leap-day short of his 87^th birthday. He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Wesley and Lena Bruce, as well as his great-granddaughter Berkleigh Addison Bruce, and daughter-in-law Kim Mariano.

Wallace was driven by his faith in Christ, and a love of hard work. He and Doreen were youth leaders, while he served as Sunday School Superintendent, or on the Deacon Board at the 1^st Assembly of God Church, and later Lamar Full Gospel Church (now Briarwood Church). The couple were widely known for hosting countless visitors in their beloved cabin in Pagosa Springs, CO, and occasionally held family work projects to keep making improvements to their treasured retreat. Wallace believed with God, all things were possible—but was particularly driven when anyone dared tell him that something couldn’t be done. He was perpetually busy, and made sure everyone around him also put in a hard day’s work.

A favorite story of the family was how he and Jim Bowls went on a hunting trip to Saddle Mountain in southern Colorado, only to become stranded in a snowstorm, and then the growing darkness of nightfall. With failing flashlights, the men became disoriented -- left with only their prayers and the instincts of their old horses, who gently steered them clear of cliffs and the other dangers in the Weminuche Wilderness. By divine grace, the thirsty, soaked, and hungry hunters were led by the horses to shelter in the form of a campsite, complete with a tent, food, fresh water, and sleeping bags. The two men found enough gas in the heater to help them survive the thick blanket of snow that fell throughout the night. The next morning, Wallace left a note with his contact information, but never learned the identity of whomever left those lifesaving provisions. He only knew that he was spared by the providence of God.

The history of Wallace’s life cannot be told without his passion for his Lord, Jesus Christ. It was the common thread woven throughout all of his days, each tale unfolding the larger story of God’s eternal faithfulness. Visitors often sought him out for his wisdom—and when others did not, he was always willing to offer some, anyway. Personally, Wallace sought his wisdom from the Lord, and was quick to thank God for every inspiration, for the beauty of creation, for new mercies each morning. He was blessed to share with others out of the abundance he had been given. Wallace Bruce loved people, loved his God, and thrived off of his relationships with both—usually at full volume.

More than anything else in this world, Wallace treasured his family. Holiday and vacation photos are filled with grandchildren sitting in his lap. He took tremendous pride in Sharon, Wayne, Lakan, Tommy, and Doretta, and the families they have in turn raised. He modeled for them how to hunt, fish, love one another, and live a life of open praise to the Father. He often smiled as he referred to his large family as his “quiver-full”, referring to the psalmist who wrote, “Behold, children are a gift of the Lord…like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.”

He is survived by wife, Doreen Bruce, of the home; children, Sharon Bruce of Amarillo, Wayne and Teresa Bruce of Pampa, Tommy and Theresa Bruce of Midland, Doretta and Cliff Anderson of Lone Grove, OK, and Lakan Mariano of San Angelo; sister, June Thurman of Pampa; two brother-in-laws, Don Anderson of Ignacio, CO, and Eddie Forde, of Childress.

Wallace was known as “Papaw” to his 16 surviving grandchildren, Jennifer Thomas of Allen, Leslie Haynes of Pampa, Kyle Ward of Amarillo, Tammy May of Pampa, Wade Bruce of Pampa, Tiffany Bruce of Midland, Kera Bruce of Midland, Justin Anderson of Lone Grove, OK, Amanda Childress of Lone Grove, OK, Courtney Ayers of Durant, OK, Kelsey Cox of Lone Grove, OK, Madison Anderson of Lone Grove, OK, Paige Anderson of Lone Grove, OK, Micah Mariano of San Angelo, Josh Mariano of Abilene, TX, and Rachael Calloway, of Angel Fire, NM; his 32 great grandchildren, a large assortment of nieces and nephews, and countless others who rightly consider themselves to be “adopted” family.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Briarwood Church, 1800 W. Harvester, Pampa, Texas 79065 or MD Anderson.