Lance Bruce

Lance Whitman Bruce Sr. (Butch), born March 26,1949, in Wilmington, Delaware, to the late Quentin Bruce and Marjorie Sephas Bruce. His parents had three boys, Quentin (Q-Dog) Bruce the oldest, Bernard Bruce being the youngest with Lance (Butchie) being the middle child. Butchie lost his parents at a young age and was raised by his uncle aunt, Mel and Janet Trader and grew up with his cousins Wayne Trader and Sharon Gibbs. Butchie grew up in Wilmington, Delaware where he attended Stubbs Elementary school, Bancroft junior high and then P. S Dupont High School. While in high school ,Lance joined a band called "Majestics" where he did talent shows and traveled with until his enrollment in the military during the Vietnam War era. Lance served for three years in the Navy, patrolling the ocean during the war and played organized football for the USS Sierra Ship. After his term, Lance attended college to further his education in Economics and Political Science at Delaware Technical Community College. He later on attended LaSalle University in Philadelphia for business management. While serving in music and the educational world, Butchie worked at Christiana Care Hospital for 35 years at the Newark campus, where he retired from. He had several roles, a Respiratory Therapist and certified nurse technician. Lance met his wife Maria Bruce, during her personal visit to get a procedure done July,1972. They got married a year later on July 14, 1973. Lance and Maria just celebrated their 51st wedding anniversary on July 14, 2024. Lance's music career continued when he joined with Garfield and Berman Jones, the Overtones, and formed the group, Wish with their sister Trudy. Wish went on tour to travel the world and opened for the groups like The Temptations, and made an album that went world wide. Lance adored Motown music. He loved the soul written in Smokey's music and rhythm that the Temptations had as well as their dance moves when performing . Lance (Butchie) served his community for over 35 years. He became the recipient of many community service awards in various ways. He was committed to making a footprint in the city that helped raise him. Within that time, he obtained and joined organizations like the "NAACP" "3rd District Neighborhood" planning counsel, where they fought to end the drugs and crime in Wilmington. He also assisted in the increase of computer access for the youth that attended Fletcher Brown Boys and Girls Club. Bruce advocated for greater economic development as well as the revitalization of the"22nd street project", The Gardner Way project", " The Walnut Street L project", " Elks on the River project". He also played a major role in creating the " Weed and Seed" program in Northeast Wilmington and the Delaware HIV Consortium, and Henrietta Johnson Medical Center. Lance also received the Community Leadership award from the "New Destiny CDC Program", May 2, 2009. Local newspapers like Scoop and the N.P.C. news, Next Level Magazine wrote articles on his community work.

Lance Bruce

March 26, 1949 - October 25, 2024