Mr. Bruce Whitney Springfield

Bruce Whitney Springfield went to be with the Lord on December 8, 2017, after several years of declining health. Bruce was born June 20, 1936 in Syracuse, New York; he was the son of late William Whitney Springfield and Winifred Lois Knight Kinzly Springfield. Bruce is survived by his beloved wife of 58 years, Suzanne “Susie” Baker Springfield; son, Robert Bruce and wife, Margaret, of Champaign, IL; son, Brian Baker and wife, Pearl, of Bloomington, IN; Daughter, Kristin Suzanne, of Danville, VA. Also surviving are five grandchildren: Tucker Whitney Springfield, Cooper McCarthy Springfield, Kellen Brown, Loudon Thompson Springfield, Keaton Erickson Springfield, and Mackenzie Anne Blair; two great grandchildren, Dillon Sutherland, and Isabelle Marie Springfield. He is survived by his brother William and his wife Barbara Springfield. Bruce was a native of Syracuse, New York, but spent most of his childhood and early adult life in the rural upstate town of Horseheads, NY. He graduated from Horseheads High School in 1955 as class president. He achieved his bachelor degree in Mechanical Engineering from Clarkson College of Technology in 1959. His Master of Science degree in engineering was achieved in 1965 from Purdue University. His military schooling includes Engineer Officer Basic and Advanced courses, Airborne and Ranger training, Army Command, General Staff College, and the Army War College. After graduation from Clarkson in 1959, he entered the U.S. Army as a Second Lieutenant in the Corp of Engineers and spent the next twenty years in a variety of assignments both in the states and abroad. Major overseas assignments included two tours in Vietnam and six years with staff and troop units in the Federal Republic of Germany. During is active military career he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, Bronze Star medal with First Oak Leaf Cluster, National Defense Service Medal, Parachutist Badge, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal with device 60, Range Tab, Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal First Class, Vietnam Engineer badge and Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm. He retired from active duty in 1979 and took a position with the U.S. Army Studies Center as a military planner. During his thirteen years with the Study Center, Bruce managed over 30 major studies dealing with analysis of theater engineering of wartime requirements and capabilities, wartime host-nation support, stationing of Army forces in Germany, and engineer force structure models. In 1994, after retirement from engineering, Bruce discovered his passion for woodworking. His work is proudly displayed in the homes of his wife, children, grandchildren and dear friends. His craftsmanship of working with wood eventually evolved into creating beautiful kaleidoscopes, which is dearly enjoyed. His artistic craftsmanship was not just limited to woodworking. He also created beautiful pieces of stained glass. Bruce not only loved time in his workshop, he enjoyed annual fishing trips with a dear college friend and family that was more about spending time together than actually catching fish. It was the event other than family Christmas that he spoke of and looked forward to most often. Fishing with John was one of the stories he spoke of in his final days. He and Susie took several cross country road trips to visit this great country’s National Parks. In a letter to he wrote to his children several years ago to be read in the event of his death, his words of wisdom were to love fully, save for the future while mindfully enjoying today, and make it a priority to visit the National Parks. Those road trips touched his heart and soul deeply while the photos were cherished and reviewed often. A memorial service will be conducted 10 AM – Wednesday (Dec. 27) at the Summersett Memorial Chapel. Interment will follow at the VA National Cemetery with Full Military Graveside Rites conducted by the US Army. In lieu of flowers please send Memorials may be sent to the W.G Hefner VA Medical Center of Salisbury, NC on line https://www.volunteer.va.gov/apps/VolunteerNow/. They provided amazing care to Bruce in his final months of life that the family will forever be grateful for. https://www.volunteer.va.gov/apps/VolunteerNow/

Mr. Bruce Whitney Springfield

June 20, 1936 - December 8, 2017