Robert Wallace Bruce

1931 - 2021

Robert (Bob) Wallace Bruce

Greenville - Robert Wallace (Bob) Bruce passed away peacefully at home on January 27, 2021. He was born to Sydney Bruce and Ethel Lee Wallace Bruce on May 7, 1931 in Greenville, SC. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother and sister-in-law, Sydney Bruce, Jr and Betsy Highsmith Bruce, nephew Sydney Bruce, III, and his step-daughter, Caroline Ivester. He is survived by his wife, Syd Coleman Bruce; children Robert Wallace Bruce, Jr, (Andrea Miller-Bruce) and Martha Bruce Beatley; nieces whom he raised like his own Lee Bruce Heery (James Moss Heery) and Ernestine Bruce Galloway (Eugene Vance Galloway); stepson Tom Ivester (Ann); grandchildren Rob Bruce, Ashley Bruce, Connor Beatley, Miranda Beatley; Clayton Heery (Chelsea), Sam Heery, Henry Heery, Sarah Galloway, Will Galloway, Laura Galloway; and great grandchildren Bradley Haupt and Emma Heery; his devoted friend/pilot Will Byrum (Britt); and his ex-wife, Anne Spier Bruce, the mother of his children.

He was a graduate of Greenville High School and Davidson College, and he served 2 years in the US Army after college. He spent most of his career in commercial real estate, starting with properties near the old Camperdown Mill, which had been owned by the family. One of his first projects was the IBM building, located next to the Camperdown bridge on Cleveland St. In the 1970's he began a long and productive business relationship with Earle Furman, Jr, which continues to the present time.

Bob's life was filled with fun and family. He was an active parent to his children and 2 nieces, and he cared for his own parents later in their lives. He taught his children and many of their friends to ride horses, water ski, snow ski, and to do whatever activity was planned for the day. He was an avid sailor and loved hiking the mountain trails near the family cabin at Caesar's Head, SC. The hummingbirds there will miss his constant refilling of the many feeders. He loved riding horses, flying, and traveling the world with Syd and friends. He was tech savvy and embraced new technologies, buying one of the first Segways in Greenville and driving hybrid and electric vehicles as soon as they were available. Those privileged to know him well will remember the stories and the laughter that all enjoyed on the porch and around the dinner table at Caesar's Head and wherever friends gathered.

There will be a memorial service, to be announced later, at the family cemetery in Pickens.

The family requests that no flowers be sent, and memorials be made to The Lindy Fund, Greenville Center for Creative Arts, 101 Abney Street, Greenville, SC 29611, 864.735.3948 or the charity of one's choice.

Visit RobinsonFuneralHomes.com or Robinson Funeral Home & Crematory Downtown Easley.