The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

Bruce Wayne Bertles, 78, of Bridge City, Texas, passed away Jan. 11, in Groves. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 16, at Winfree Baptist Church in Orange. Officiating will be the Rev. Keith Royal. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.

Born in Millville, NJ, July 8, 1937, he was the son of Louis Buckman Bertles and Edith Mae Loper Bertles.

Bruce's leadership abilities were recognized early in his life as he was sent to Boys State in his junior year of high school.

He was also a "rope" for his squadron at basic training at Lackland Air Force Base.

He was voted Most Valuable Player in football during his Air Force career in Germany.

He also loved playing baseball, and continued playing semi-pro baseball and football after coming home.

His passion for golf was evident in the post football/baseball years.

He played EVERY weekend, and as many nights after work as he could manage.

Although he never went to college, he was a natural marvel in the job he did.

He started out as a lab technician and retired as Polytrope Technical Services and Development Manager.

At a Society of Plastics Engineers meeting he was referred to as "the best there is at what he does".

He was a good man who loved his family.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, William Young, Kenneth Bertles, Louis Bertles and Robert Bertles and his sisters, Dorothy Cheesman and Carole Ireland.

He is survived by his loving wife, Sara G. “Sallie” Bertles, of Bridge City; children, Susan Bertles Moore and husband David, of Little Elm, Steven Bertles and wife Jackie, of Centerville, Oh. and Stuart Bertles and wife Kristi, of Orange; grandchildren, Melissa Mitchell and husband Justin, Matthew Moore, Mitchell Moore, Merri Lynn Moore, Tyler Bertles and wife Rachel, Sara Bertles, Brett Bertles and Brooke Bertles; great-grandchildren, Natalie, Logan and Valerie Mitchell and Averi Moore.

Arrangements are under the direction of Claybar Funeral Home and Crematory in Orange.