Dennis Bruce

Loved by many and a true gentleman, Dennis Luther Bruce, 67, of Spartanburg, died peacefully February 22, 2011. Mr. Bruce was a native of North Carolina; born in Elizabeth City and raised in Winston-Salem, Siler City, and Raleigh, NC. He was the son of the late Luther Columbus, Jr. and Mary Miller Bruce, and grandson of the late William Gray and Jennie Atkinson Miller, and Luther Columbus, Sr. and Bessie Pearl Fulton Bruce. Dennis graduated from Needham Broughton High School in Raleigh, where he was a two-year letterman on the swim team. He received a B.A. in English in 1968 from Methodist University and an M.S. in Library Science from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, in 1970. Dennis began his career as Assistant Librarian of the North Carolina Supreme Court and then Wake County Public Libraries in N.C. He came to Spartanburg in July, 1975, to head the Spartanburg County Public Libraries. He was dedicated to the Spartanburg County Library System and the whole community of Spartanburg. When he came to the Upstate, it was his goal to expand Spartanburg's two-branch library system to the entire county. He oversaw the opening of six branches throughout the county and the $14.6 million campaign, construction, and opening of the headquarters for the library in downtown Spartanburg in 1997. He retired from the Spartanburg County Public Library System in 2000, though he remained very involved with it and other community projects. Dennis received the Distinguished Service Award from the Spartanburg Jaycees, the BRODART Outstanding Librarian Award, Citizen of the Year from the Lions Club, and The Order of the Palmetto from the Governor of South Carolina. He was a member of the Rotary Club of Spartanburg from 1975 until 2007; serving as president from 1988-1989 and was a Paul Harris Fellow. His community service also included the Appalachian Network, First Steps, United Way, Share the Vision, Inc., the Urban League, and Mobile Meals. Anyone that knew Dennis Bruce knew of his love and loyalty for UNC-CH. He was a founding member of the UNC Educational Foundation (Rams Club) Spartanburg-Greenville Chapter, serving as secretary until 2005. His dedication to Methodist University in Fayetteville, NC, earned him the Outstanding Alumni Award in 2000. Dennis served proudly with the North Carolina National Guard from 1964-1985 and achieved the rank of Major as a military historian. He is survived by his loving wife of 43 years, Beatrice Louise Sears Bruce; his son, Brian Patrick Bruce of Chicago; and his daughter, Alison Anderson Bruce Preacher and her husband Jeffery James of Charleston; his three brothers and sister, Robert Michael Bruce of Danbury, NC, Branson Key Bruce of Winston-Salem, NC, John Stuart Bruce of Raleigh, NC, and Mary Virginia Bruce Scott and her husband Tom, of Richmond, VA; his mother-in-law, Jacquelyn Sears, formerly of Flat Rock, NC; nine nephews and nieces; and seven great nephews and nieces. Visitation will take place at the home from 5:00-8:00 PM Friday, February 25, 2011. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM Saturday, February 26, 2011 at St. Christopher's Episcopal Church, conducted by the Rev. Joseph K. Smith. Burial will be at St. John's in the Wilderness Episcopal Church Cemetery, Flat Rock, NC. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Dennis L. Bruce Author Series Fund, Spartanburg County Public Libraries, 151 S. Church St., Spartanburg, SC 29306; or to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, Attn: Tribute Gifts, PO Box 780, New York, NY 10008 (For donations made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation, please be sure to include a note indicating that the memorial is for Dennis Bruce, as well as the name and address to which the acknowledgement should be sent). Floyd's North Church Street Chapel To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Dennis Luther Bruce please visit our Sympathy Store.