Doyle Edward Bruce, Jr.

Services for Doyle Edward Bruce, Jr. (Edward), age 78, of Tyler, TX will be held on Friday September 25, 2026, at 2:00 pm at the Wallace Thompson Funeral Home with Bob King officiating. Visitation will be from 1:00 to 2:00 pm preceding the service. Interment will follow at the Garden of Memories Memorial Park, 5205 S First St. in Lufkin, TX under the direction of Wallace-Thompson Funeral Home.
Edward passed away on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, in Tyler, TX. He was born in Lufkin, TX on June 17,1948 to Doyle Edward Bruce, Sr. and Helen Slack Bruce.
He graduated from Lufkin High School in 1966, where he played the trumpet in the Lufkin High School Band. He still had many close friends from his band days and cared deeply about all of them. Edward attended the University of Texas in Austin, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Zoology. He also attended the University of Texas in Arlington, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing and the University of Texas in Tyler, where he earned a Master’s Degree in Nursing. He served in the United States Navy.
Edward worked as a Registered Nurse for a combined total of 27 years at Austin State Hospital and Rusk State Hospital. He served as the Director of Nursing at Rusk State Hospital for several years before retiring in 2013.
He married Glenda Mayes Bruce on June 3, 1989, and was the father of Ryan and Travis Bruce.
Edward enjoyed world history, especially US history; genealogy research and family history; traveling; reading and college football. He supported the University of Texas Longhorns.
Edward and Glenda enjoyed traveling after retirement during which they made many happy memories. Edward’s favorite trip was a 25-day London to Berlin tour in 2019.
He was known for his kindness, wit, willingness to help, intelligence, and gentlemanly conduct. He believed in Jesus Christ.
He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Glenda Bruce; sons, Ryan Bruce of Portland, Oregon, and Travis Bruce of Bayside, New York; sister, Paula Bruce Ashworth; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Mary Ann and Johnny Patterson. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Bill Bruce.
He will be remembered for his love, honesty, loyalty, and the cherished memories he created with those who knew him.
Pallbearers will be nephews James Ashworth, Kyle King, Del Patterson, Britt Patterson, Johnny Glen Patterson, and Steven Patterson.
Honorary pallbearers will be Dan Melton, Frank Setzler, Lyndon Holmes, and Rick Skinner.