Bruce William Casper

Bruce William Casper, 76, was born the oldest of two children on September 4, 1946, in Canton, Ohio, to parents Vernon Flavius and Dorothy Maxine Casper. Bruce joined our Lord on August 26, 2023, after battling heart disease.

Bruce attended The Jackson Township School System for all 12 years of his childhood education. Bruce was graduated from Parsons College in 1968, and soon after, he was accepted by the USAF and attended officer school and pilot training.

Bruce was graduated from pilot training at Reese AFB in April 1970. Upon graduation he returned to Reese as a primary jet instructor pilot. In 1973 he left active duty and continued his USAF flying career with the USAF Reserves where he served part time flying the A-37 and the A-10 aircraft until 1990. In 1974, Bruce was hired as a pilot by the start-up company, FedEx.

During Bruce’s 33-year career with FedEx, he flew as a first officer, a captain and a flight instructor in numerous aircraft. From 1988 till 1993 Bruce served as the Chief Pilot of Flight Training after which, he was loaned by FedEx to Airbus Industries in Toulouse, France, to help facilitate the delivery of 25 Airbus A310 freighters. During his three years at Airbus, he trained pilots from many different countries while helping with the delivery and introduction of the Airbus A-300 into the FedEx system. In 1996 Bruce returned to FedEx and continued flying and instructing until his retirement in 2006.

Bruce enjoyed the outdoors, hunting, fishing, and traveling. He visited over 120 countries and territories for both business and pleasure and has set foot on all seven continents and all 50 States.

Bruce was thankful to all members of the Tampa General Hospital Cardiac Transplant Team, especially Dr. Benjamin Mackie, for making it possible for a heart failure patient over the age of 70 to take advantage of this life prolonging procedure. May their good work continue.

Bruce is survived by numerous family and friends, including: the love of his life and wife of 51 years, Barbara Chambers Casper of Cape Coral, FL; his brother Mark Vernon Casper, SR and wife Barbara Fordyce of Canton, OH; nephews and nieces Mark Vernon JR, Meredith Leigh (Jordan), Clayton Bruce (Alexandria), Stephen (Lorri), Sara (Conrad), Tim, Mary (Kevin), Collin (Meredith), Stephanie (Mark), Ashley, Caramia (Cullen); in-laws Steve Chambers, Cherri Simpkins, Peggy Detlefsen (Robin), Sherry Chambers, Sue Haining (adopted family member); great nieces Keziah Leigh, Roan Geneva, Vale Noelle, Liv Ember; and numerous close friends. Preceded in death are brothers-in-law Coleman Simpkins, Craig Chambers; nephew Eric.

A graveside service will be held at the Sunset Hills Burial Park in Canton, Ohio, on Saturday, September 2, 2023, 11:00am. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to: Tampa General Hospital Transplant Program, 813-844-7000, www.tgh.org/donate and/or, American Cancer Society, 800-227-2345, www.donate.cancer.org.