SOUTH PORTLAND — Charles Theodore “Bud” Bruce, 90, died June 8, at the Cedars in Portland.

He was born in Bangor on Dec. 14, 1922, the son of Harold and Irene Bruce.

He graduated from Hampden Academy, Class of 1941. and attended the University of Maine for one year before joining the U.S. Marine Corp. He proudly served his country during World War II and received a Purple Heart after he was wounded in combat on Iwo Jima.

When he returned to Maine he began classes at Gorham State Teachers College, receiving his degree in 1952. He began his teaching career at Bangor High School for three years. After Bangor, he taught in Dedham, Mass., for two years, and then taught at Wilton Academy for four years. Finally, Bruce took a position as an industrial arts teacher at South Portland High School and later became the director of vocational education. He served on its faculty from 1961 until his retirement in 1983. He also served for 28 years as an Army reservist, retiring at the rank of major.

Bruce married the love of his life, Mary Alice Theriault, on June 17, 1946, in Bangor, and together they raised seven children. He was a communicant of Holy Cross Church, and a member of its choir for many years.

In retirement, he enjoyed being a handyman who could fix anything, and had many clients in the greater Portland area. He and his wife enjoyed camping in their RV, organizing and attending family reunions and sharing picnics on the shore. He was devoted to his family and loved nothing more than spending time with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Bruce was predeceased by his parents, his son Charles P. Bruce, II, and his two sisters, Frances Madeline Turrmel and Beatrice May Tibbetts.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 67 years, Alice; daughters Jill E. Gorham and husband Richard, of Westbrook, and Mary I. Bruce, of South Portland; sons David M. Bruce and wife Pat, of Windham, Peter J. Bruce, of South Portland, Robert H. Bruce and wife Lynda, of South Portland, and William E. Bruce and wife Helen Scalia, of Portland; nine grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and his sister Florence Christine Gorum, of Shreveport, La,. and numerous brothers and sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank the staffs of Birchwoods, the Cedars and Hospice of Southern Maine for their compassionate and loving care.

Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. on Friday, June 14, at Conroy-Tully Crawford South Portland Chapel, 1024 Broadway, South Portland. Prayers will be recited at 8:15 a.m. Saturday at the Chapel, followed by a 9 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial at Holy Cross Church, in South Portland. Burial with military honors will follow in Old Calvary Cemetery, in South Portland.

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