Bruce Harmon
November 11, 1953 — October 4, 2014
Colonel Bruce Francis Harmon, USAF Retired, passed away at San Antonio Military Medical Center on October 4, 2014 after battling chronic lymphocytic leukemia for over 20 years. Born on November 11, 1953, in New Rochelle, NY, Bruce spent most of his childhood in Kendall Park, NJ. He was the eldest son of Eugene Wilbur and Lois Marie Brownell Harmon. On August 15, 1981 he married Joy Lynn Nibarger in Chillicothe, MO. Bruce received a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science from Troy State University in 1983 and a Master of Science degree in information resources management from Air Force Institute of Technology in 1990. Bruce was a decorated communications officer who proudly served his country for thirty-three years. He attended officer training school in San Antonio, TX in 1983, after attaining the enlisted rank of Technical Sergeant. He served at Eglin AFB, FL; Dyess AFB, TX; Pease AFB, NH; Offutt AFB, NE; Randolph AFB and Lackland AFB, San Antonio, TX; and Tinker AFB, OK as well as overseas at Comiso AS, Italy and Ramstein AB, Germany. He was Commander of 690 Computer Systems Squadron, Lackland and Director of Information Technology and Chief Information Officer for the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center, Tinker. After retiring in 2008, he continued to serve as the G6 for the AMEDD Center & School, Fort Sam Houston, TX. Bruce was a highly-respected mentor, member and professional in the Information Technology community. Bruce was always available to provide great advice as he exhibited patience, kindness and a willingness to share his knowledge and time with others. He was a great leader with a political savvy that influenced many decisions of senior leadership, and also reactivated Boy Scout Troop 512, Schertz in 1997, serving as Scoutmaster of the Troop for 2 years. Bruce loved all sports and had season tickets to the Texas Tech and Texas State football games. He served as a baseball coach, Webelo Leader, Assistant Scoutmaster, and served on several scout committees. Bruce was a dearly loved family man who coached and guided his sons to be outstanding young men and was very proud when they all achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, and fought long enough to see all three of his sons receive their bachelor degrees in the past year. Bruce and Joy loved to travel and traveled extensively throughout Europe, including ski trips to Austria, and sight-seeing trips to Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Belgium, Norway, France and England. Their last trip was to Ireland where they spent several days sightseeing with his brother, Stephen and wife, Donna. He is survived by his beloved and very proud wife of 33 years, Joy Harmon, as well as their three sons, Christopher, David, and Michael; mother-in-law, Lena Nibarger; brothers, Paul Harmon and wife Lorraine, and Stephen Harmon and wife, Donna; sisters, Susan Packer and husband Malcolm, Valerie Harmon, and Allison Harmon; brother-in-law, Raymond Lemore; brother and sister-in-law, Steve and Janet Nibarger; along with ten nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Eugene Wilbur and Lois Marie Brownell Harmon, a sister, Linda Lemore and father-in-law, Melvin Nibarger. Bruce's life will be celebrated on Tuesday, October 14, 2014, visitation to be held from 4:00PM - 8:00PM, with a Rosary to be recited at 7:00PM at Schertz Funeral Home. The Funeral Mass will be conducted on Wednesday, October 15, 2014, at 11:30AM, at Good Shepherd Catholic Church. Interment to follow at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery with full United States Air Force honors. The family would like to extend their sincere gratitude and appreciation to the staff of the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, and the Hematology/Oncology Unit, SAMMC, for their exceptional care during Bruce's long battle and multiple hospitalizations during the past year. They provided unlimited comfort and hope, and their support will always be remembered. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent in his name to Boy Scout Troop 512 in Schertz, TX or to Wilford Hall ASC Auxiliary, 2200 Bergquist Dr, Ste 1, Lackland AFB, TX to be used in the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit at SAMMC. Arrangements are being made to furnish a family room for the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit at SAMMC.
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