Mr. Houston Edwin Bruce, 87, of Statesville, N.C., moved on to his Heavenly home on Wednesday, January 24, 2024, at the Gordon Hospice House in Statesville surrounded by his loving family.
Houston was a loving man who adored all his family. He was born September 15, 1936, to the late Thomas Edward Bruce and Nellie White Lambert.
Houston worked 22 years at Superior Dairy and 21 years at Clark Equipment Inc. He also worked at Home Oil #5 on Shelton Avenue and Salisbury Highway in Statesville.
He and his late wife of 66 years, Retha Wagoner Bruce, loved square dancing, which they enjoyed for a number of years, and riding the pontoon boat while lake-living with family and friends. Houston competed in car races during the 1960s and 1970s at Hickory Motor Speedway. He restored a 1947 Chevrolet Fleetline and a 1957 Chevrolet BelAir. Later in life he enjoyed woodworking. He took great pleasure in taking his projects to the flea market and was featured in the Statesville Record & Landmark for some of his beautiful woodwork. He made stained glass churches, wheelbarrows, and water wells just to name a few. One of his favorite pieces was a wooden flying pig because of the phrase “when pigs fly.” Houston truly enjoyed meeting and talking with people – he never met a stranger.
Preceding him in death were a sister, Toby Bowman (Roger); and two infant daughters, Retha Diann and Tammy Marie Bruce.
Left to cherish his memory are his daughter, Sandra Bruce Moose (Barry), and son, Ricky Houston Bruce (Kelly), both of Statesville; grandchildren, Christina Reel (Craig), Shane Bruce (Elizabeth), Jeremy Bruce (Crystal VanCuren) and BJ Moose; and great grandchildren, Cameron Moose (Brittany), Brooklyn Moose (Daniel Thomas), Chandler Reel, Carolina and Dalton Bruce. Great Great Grandchildren Aiden McMenamin, Cade Moose, Addie and Lainey Thomas.
The family of Houston would like to thank the staff of the Statesville location of Hospice & Palliative Care of Iredell County for their support and the care and compassion that was shown, not just to him, but to our entire family during his illness.
Houston was loved by all and will be greatly missed. A Celebration of Life will be held in the Chapel at Nicholson Funeral Home on Monday, January 29, at 1 p.m. Visitation with the family will be prior to the service beginning at 12 noon. Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery in Statesville, N.C.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice & Palliative Care of Iredell County, 2347 Simonton Road, Statesville, NC 28625.
Nicholson Funeral Home is honored to serve the Bruce family.