Richard Dean Bruce, 65, of Warrensburg, died Saturday, Oct. 20 at Research Medical Center in Kansas City, Mo.

Graveside services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 24 at Versailles Cemetery in Versailles, Mo. Pastor Danny Ousley will be officiating and full military honors will be provided.

Pallbearers will be Richard Bruce, Rondal Hunter, Mason Hunter, Cole Hunter, Tris Maxson and Eric Goodman. Honorary pallbearers will be Steven Hunter, Kent Uptegrove, Larry Uptegrove, Shawn Uptegrove and Tim Reiss.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 23 at Sweeney-Phillips & Holdren Funeral Home in Warrensburg.

He was born Nov. 27, 1946 in Harveyville, Kan., the son of Morris and Mary (Tucker) Bruce.

He was united in marriage to Frona Uptegrove Hunter on Sept. 8, 1969 in Columbus, Ga.

When Richard was little, his family moved to Paramount, Calif., in 1952. He joined the U.S. Army in 1965, served in Germany and Vietnam, and was honorably discharged in 1969. Following the war, Richard and Frona moved to Warrensburg, and he completed a bachelor’s, master’s, and specialists degrees in education at Central Missouri State University. He taught mathematics for 26 years at Pleasant Lea Junior High School in Lee’s Summit.

Richard, Frona, and their three children were baptized and attended Mount Zion Baptist Church. Richard was known by all of his siblings as Dick or Dickie, to his kids just dad, and to his grandchildren as “Papa.” After retiring from teaching, papa continued to tutor his grandchildren in math and took a great interest in their success. He enjoyed spending time with all of his grandchildren including tubing at the lake, babysitting and swimming. He was a real man that enjoyed making his grandkids happy – even if it meant playing dress-up, standing in for daddy in daddy-daughter dance, makeovers, or Barbie dolls with his grandchildren. Richard enjoyed going to Harrah’s casino and playing video poker for hours on end; reading novels; watching football and basketball; mowing and trimming his yard; working construction with his sons; playing Scrabble, Upwords, and Sudoku; laughing and helping friends and neighbors.

Richard is survived by his wife Frona of the home; one daughter, Rafael Maxson and husband Tris of Warrensburg; two sons, Rondal Hunter and wife Laura of Warrensburg; and Richard Bruce II and wife Lori of Springfield, Mo.; two sisters, Beverly Prell of Simi Valley, Calif.; and Linda Anderson of Chino Hills, Calif.; one brother, Don Bruce of Paramount, Calif.; seven grandchildren, Eric Goodman, Mason and Cole Hunter, Brittany Ackerman, Allison, Madison, and Collin Bruce; five great-grandchildren including step-grandchildren Zachary and Emily Ikerd; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Steven.

Memorial contributions are suggested to Nathan’s Quest and can be left in care of the funeral home.

 

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