S. Bruce Thompson's Obituary
Bruce was born May 20, 1950 in Brigham City Utah to Sheldon Alfonso Thompson and Katie Wanda Petersen Thompson. He attended Box Elder High School in Brigham City. After receiving his draft notice, Bruce immediately joined the U.S. Army June 13, 1969 where he began as a Combat Engineer. Bruce never spoke much about his 13 months in Viet Nam except that he built roads, and also told funny stories about his tent-mate who had a monkey who was always causing mayhem and kept the guys entertained. After Nam, Bruce was reassigned to Fulda, Germany where he served as Engineer Equipment Repairman. He told stories about being chauffeur for the “Big Brass”, which was probably his favorite duty. While in the Army Bruce received the Army Commendation Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, 2 OS Bars, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Expert M-14 Certification, and a Purple Heart Medal for receiving shrapnel in his backside. He was always kind of embarrassed about the Purple Heart. While in Germany soldiers were offered an early-out if they were accepted at a school for higher education. His application was accepted at the University of Tulsa so he was discharged December 11, 1971. After arriving in Tulsa on January 2, 1972, Bruce soon found that TU was way too expensive for him so he enrolled in Spartan School of Aeronautics where he received his A&P license. Bruce never pursued a aeronautics position and instead opened his own car body shop, then obtained a dealers license and began buying and selling used cars; later opening his own car lot in Coweta. He worked for his friend, J. C. Pack, as an attendant and mechanic at a Conoco Service Station while still buying and selling cars. In October 1976 Bruce was swept off his feet by a girl working next door at the OU Med School after she invited him to take her to the OU-Missouri football game in Norman that next weekend. Bruce and Sue were married December 14, 1977. During their early dating days, Bruce continued to buy and sell cars. When they began talking marriage, Sue insisted he get a REAL job so he began a career as a manager trainee with Color Tile Paint and Wallpaper. He quickly moved up the ranks to manager and was assigned his own store in Springfield, Missouri. Unfortunately the family was not real happy there so only five months later Bruce resigned from Color Tile and the family packed up and moved back to Tulsa. Bruce began selling new and used cars for Tate Datsun BMW where he was recognized as Salesman of the Month on numerous occasions during the two year period there. In 1981 Bruce decided maybe he would like to sell real estate, which was a prelude for starting his own company, SRA Properties, in 1983, where he was President and Managing Broker. In 1987 Bruce was offered the position of Vice President of Jason Properties, Inc. This company was under government contract to market, manage and maintain homes for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in eastern Oklahoma. Later they would manage properties throughout the whole southern half of Oklahoma. In 1999 HUD changed their Real Estate Asset program to have only seven areas throughout the U.S. Unfortunately Jason Properties was a small company with only three partners so they felt seven states would be just too much to manage so Jason Properties closed its doors. In November, 1999, Bruce was hired by the Tulsa Housing Authority as inspector for Public Housing and Projected Based Section 8 units in the Tulsa area. In June 2002 Bruce was promoted to Inspections Manager. On a personal note, Bruce loved his family and his four legged Schnoodle girls Mitzi, Bella, and Samatha the cat. He enjoyed cooking and enjoyed many good times with wonderful friends. He loved to travel, whether it be in a motor home going east or west, taking cruises, or by plane visiting various islands in the Caribbean and Mexico. Bruce and Sue traveled to England and Scotland for their honeymoon after six years of marriage. Bruce had an outgoing personality and made friends and acquaintances everywhere he went. He never met a stranger. Bruce succumbed to cancer July 14, 2017 at 9:07 p.m. with his family by his side. He is preceded in death by his father, Sheldon Alfonso Thompson, mother, Katie Wanda Petersen Thompson, and baby brother Roy Thompson. He is survived by his loving wife of almost 40 years, Sue Milliser Thompson, daughter, Sheila Luann Thompson Caico and Alan Caico, sister, JoAnn Thompson Hunt, stepdaughter April Dunn Turner and Joe Turner, stepson Todd Alan Dunn, grandsons Nicholas Thompson, Spencer Mason, and Tyelor Dunn, seven nieces and nephews and four great-grand children. Services will be held on Wednesday, July 19, at 1:00 p.m. at the Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 3702 South 90th East Avenue, Tulsa. Bruce always said when he passed he wanted a New Orleans Dixieland Jazz funeral. He wanted people to party, to have fun, and not be sad. He strongly believed in a Celebration of life. To grant Bruce his wish, a miniature Dixieland Jazz parade will be held following the service. .
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