Bruce Sutton, a lifetime resident of Warwick, NY passed away on July 23, 2018 with his family, friends and beloved caregiver, Deedee, by his side. He was 74 years old.
Born July 15, 1944 at St. Anthony Hospital, Warwick, NY to Ned Sutton and Exia M. Jackson.
Bruce attended and graduated from Warwick Valley High School in 1962, after serving as the class president junior and senior years. He earned an Associate’s degree while serving on the student senate from OCCC and continued his education at the University of Minnesota, where he graduated in 1966 with a B.A. degree in Political Science, Speech & History.
Bruce was active in the community from a young age, from the Boy Scouts and earning the rank of Eagle Scout with Troop 45; as a member of the Elks and Kiwanis; having served as the president of the Rotary (1972-79); and for 48 years with the Warwick American Legion Post 214, where he held every position, including the position of Commander, which he held for 5 years.
In 1966, Bruce enlisted in the U.S. Army where he served in Ft. Gordon, GA and was sent to Okinawa for 41 months. While at Tovii Station, Okinawa, Bruce was a communication specialist 72B20 Crypt6 E5-71L20- Administrative. In 1977, he joined the US Army Reserves in Bullville as Carpenter Specialist where he was promoted to Construction Supervisor SSG in 1986, while working his civilian job as a Unit Administrator, GS-07. Bruce retired in 1996 after more than 18 years of service. He always proudly said that “he took care of the troops.” Bruce did this so well, he was honored with the Superior Civilian Service Award in 2004 for outstanding Federal Service in the 854th Engineer Battalion from 1986-2004.
After receiving an honorable discharge, Bruce worked for Purex as a salesman. After three years was promoted to the NY Manager. He changed career paths shortly after and became a real estate broker with D.L. Hawkins for six years and then was with Sutton & Lang for an additional five years.
Bruce is survived by his sister, Betty Demarest of Wurtsboro; brother, Rev. Jerry Sutton of Nashport, OH; nieces: Lisa Fitzgerald of Slate Hill, NY Dr. Erica Brennan of West Nyack, NY and Kerry Sutton of Cleveland, OH; and nephews: Wayne Demarest of Montgomery, NY and Chris Sutton of OH.
Visitation will be held on Monday July 30 from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at Lazear-Smith & Vander Plaat Memorial Home, 17 Oakland Avenue, Warwick. A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, July 31 at 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home, followed by interment at Warwick Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, Bruce requested that you make donations in his memory to the Warwick American Legion Post 214, P.O. Box 41, Warwick, NY 10990.