January 19, 2006

Charles Milton Bruce dies three months after
the love of his life passes away

By Kymberli W. Brady
Staff Writer

You may not have known him, but it is hard to forget the bigger-than-life image that graced our July 21, 2005 issue for the cover story “Just like home—charming affordable housing alternatives for aging seniors.”

Charles Milton Bruce was frail and spent many of his days in an overstuffed chair, drifting in and out of daytime naps, waiting for his daughter, Diane Lawrence to stop by on her way home from work.

At 87, Charles Milton Bruce was frail and spent many of his days in an overstuffed chair, drifting in and out of daytime naps, waiting either for his daughter, Diane Lawrence to stop by on her way home from work or for Charlene, his wife of 65 years to get well enough to leave the hospital and join him at Harmony House, an assisted care home in Almaden.

On Wednesday, Jan. 11, he joined her instead, while family and friends buried him by her side at Oak Hill Cemetery, just three months after complications following a stroke finally took her from him.

Born April 28, 1918, in Chanute, Kan., Charlie remained bigger than life until his death on Jan. 5. He leaves behind four children; Carol Domberger, Joyce Lyon, Diane Lawrence and Robert Bruce and their spouses; Earl Domberger, Clay Lyon, Arnie Lawrence and Vicki Bruce as well as eight grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
His passion for his wife and his family never wavered and no one knew that better than Diane.

“After she died, he wanted to be with her,” said Diane. “They had a 30-minute engagement—he called my mom after WWII started and asked her if she wanted to get married because they were told they’d be gone a long time. She asked him when he needed to know and he said 30 minutes. They were married in Reno that weekend, Memorial Day weekend.”

He worked for FMC at Mare Island as a tank inspector during WWII and maintained his position as a civilian after the war, while she stayed at home and raised their four children.

“He didn’t want her to work,” Diane said. “He wanted someone to stay home with us.”

Together their lives were filled with family—and fishing, a passion that was documented with photos of the two, who Diane says would spend hours at their summer house casting away and talking about their kids.

“It’s kind of like you love them beyond loving them because they’re always there for you,” Diane said. “There was such a special bond.”

As they grew older, they entered a nursing home together and remained there until a fall put her in the hospital. It was the first time they had spent a night apart in ages. Diane later found Harmonie Home practically in her backyard, reserved a room for two and moved him in.

Despite a waiting list and the loss of revenue, Jona Romualdez, who owns and manages five Harmonie Home residential care facilities, including three in Almaden, continued to hold the bed next to Charlie for his wife, who she knew would never recover.

Family portrait taken at the park on the corner of Camden and Meridian, with Charlene and Charles (center), and their children (from L-R) Carol Domberger, Diane Lawrence, Joyce Lyon, and Robert Bruce.

“I couldn’t give that bed away,” Jona said. “He loved her with a passion. Every time he talked abut her, it was with this beautiful light in his eyes. Sometimes it’s not about the money.”

In the July interview with the Almaden Times, he was still waiting for her, but acknowledged Jona’s kindness.

“Boy these girls sure do spoil me a lot, and I love every minute of it,” he laughed.

But after she died three months ago, some say he gave up and wanted to be with her.

Now he is.

Although comfortable with the fact that they are finally back together, life without her father is hard and Diane and her family cling to his pictures, song lyrics and memories.

“He was just a real genuine guy,” said Diane’s husband Arnie. “There wasn’t a false bone in his body.”

“He was the glue that kept our family together. He gave up so much to give to us,” Diane said. “That’s how I want him to be remembered.”