My father, Carl Eugene Bruce, died on 24 October 2013. He used to work for Ohio Power, and at one time, his job was to shut off the electricity of people who had not paid their bills. He sometimes would find a home with an impoverished mother and some children. Instead of shutting off their electricity, he would tell the mother that she needed to pay her bill or soon her electricity would be shut off. He would write on a form that no one was home when he stopped by because if no one was home he did not have to shut off their electricity.
The best good deed that anyone ever did for my father occurred after a storm that knocked down many power lines. He and other linemen worked long hours and got wet and cold. Their feet were freezing because water got into their boots and soaked their socks. Fortunately, a kind woman gave my father and the other linemen dry socks to wear.
My mother, Josephine Saturday Bruce, died on 14 June 2003. She used to work at a store that sold clothing. One day, an impoverished mother with a baby clothed in rags walked into the store and started shoplifting in an interesting way: The mother took the rags off her baby and dressed the infant in new clothing. My mother knew that this mother could not afford to buy the clothing, but she helped the mother dress her baby and then she watched as the mother walked out of the store without paying.
My mother and my father both died at 7:40 p.m.
This is the obituary:
Carl Eugene Bruce, 81, of Zanesville passed away October 24, 2013 at Cedar Hill Care Center. He was born March 11, 1932 in Newark, OH a son of the late George and Martha Kettlewell Bruce.
Carl attended Moholm School in Newark, OH and then decided to enlist in the United States Air Force. While in the Air Force, Carl performed the tasks of an instrument technician. Post service, he was employed by Ohio Power through IBEW Local #71 for 40 years. He also worked several years overseas in Saudi Arabia installing transformers. After returning home he taught power lineman training at the MAJVS. Upon retirement he pursued a janitorial position with the Zanesville Police Station.
Carl is survived by his wife, Carolyn Bruce; his children, David Bruce; George (Diana) Bruce; Martha (Steve) Farmer; Rosa Jones; Carla (Michael) Evans; Brenda (Rex) Kennedy; Frank (Jane) Bruce and two adopted sons, Keith Bruce and Matthew Bruce. Also surviving are his step-children, Rick (Lori) Evans; Karen (Randy) Whitehair; Brian (Helen) Evans; and Keith (Theresa) Evans. He is also survived by three sisters, Carol Ford, Marge Prince and Sue Angle, numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by the mother of his children Josephine Bruce on June 14, 2003; sister, Wanda Prince; an infant brother, a grandson, Chad Kennedy and son-in-saw, Randy Jones.
Carl donated his body to the Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Dad with his sister Sue
Michelle with the balloons she sent to Dad
The sunset in Florida when Dad died.
Check out some FREE eBooks about good deeds (and some books for SALE, and some FREE literature discussion guides):
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