Bruce Derden Walcutt

Bruce D. Walcutt 1947 – 2006 Bruce Derden Walcutt, beloved husband and father, died at home on May 6, 2006. He was 58. Bruce was born on a farm September 26, 1947, outside Grapevine, Texas. His parents, Bill and Doris, along with his older brother, John, moved to Austin in 1955 settling on Bee Cave Road. Bruce attended Eanes School when it was just a four-room rock schoolhouse with 76 students. Together, the two brothers hiked and biked over the hills of Westlake and were especially fond of Barton Creek, where they fished and built rafts. It was at this time that Bruce began his lifelong association with the Boy Scouts by joining Troop 91. Bruce attended O. Henry Junior High and Austin High School where he met his future wife, Mary Holt. After graduating from the University of Texas at El Paso with a BBA and an honorable discharge from the Marine Corps Reserves, Bruce returned to Austin and entered the restaurant business. He was a co-founder of Pelican’s Wharf in 1972. In 1975, he formed a new group and founded the County Line Restaurant in the Old Cedar Crest Lodge, just a short distance from his family home. He later married his high school friend, Mary, and together with their son, Paul, they built a home in Westlake Hills. Through Paul’s involvement in Scouting, Bruce and Paul became active in Troop 5. Through Troop 5, the two had many wonderful outdoor adventures and made lifelong friends, including their camping mentors Martin Turner and Allen Spelce. Bruce’s greatest pride and love was for his wife and son. Together they traveled extensively to four continents, enjoyed the arts and took advantage of the outdoors. Bruce was always quick to brag on Paul and was in awe of his scholarly accomplishments. He also had great admiration and love for his parents who taught him by example the importance of giving back to the community when they co-founded St. Michael’s Church, the Chap Club, the Westbank Library, and led the fight to keep Eanes an independent school district. He loved his brother John who put up with his little brother abuses when they were growing up and he never forgot the great adventures the two of them had on Barton Creek and in college. He also loved Ana, his pal from college who filled the role of the sister he never had. Bruce’s genuine love of and pride in the Austin community was manifested in many ways. He served as President of the Capitol Area Council Boy Scouts of America, President of the Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau, President of the Westlake Community Library, President of the Headliners Club, and on the boards of directors of Big Brothers-Big Sisters, the Austin Heritage Society, the Austin Restaurant Association, Ballet Austin, and Philmont Scout Ranch. He received numerous national and local Boy Scout Awards. Bruce was grateful for the friendship of his partners Skeeter, Ed, and the Goss brothers, as well the many wonderful managers and employees of the County Line and the many fine young men and volunteers of Troop 5. He immensely enjoyed the travels with Mary and their traveling companions, Steve and Betsy Scheffe. Special thanks also go out to Terry and Gail who introduced Bruce and Mary to skiing and other frivolities. Bruce’s obituary would not be complete without acknowledging his close group of High Adventure and UT Sports fan buddies. No one will ever know for sure what happened on all the crazy camping trips, but they always came back laughing. Most of all, Bruce loved Mary, and treasured every moment they spent together. Bruce is survived by his wife Mary, son Paul, sisters-in-law Diane Walcutt and Ana Salas-Porras-King, brothers-in-law Tommy Holt and wife Angela and Joe Holt and wife Mary Pat, nephews Matthew Walcutt, Jonathan Holt and Benjamin Holt, nieces Maria Walcutt, Casey Holt and Shannon Holt, and cousins Irv and Rosalie Cumbie. A memorial service will be held at the County Line on the Lake, 5204 FM 2222 on Tuesday, May 9 at 1 P.M. In lieu of flowers, Bruce and his family request that donations be made to: The BSA Troop 5 Camper Scholarship Fund c/o Martin Turner, 1105 Live Oak Ridge, Austin, TX 78746; The Hill Country Conservancy; Meals on Wheels; or The Ballet Austin Foundation. Obituary and guestbook online at wcfish.com