Wilker Shane Bruce PhD

Wilker Shane Bruce, PhD, age 68, of Clearwater, Florida, passed away on Monday, July 28, 2025, surrounded by his wife and three children. He was born on March 29, 1957, in Elyria, Ohio, to Jean and Wilker Bruce.

Shane valued and encouraged education throughout his life. He left Midview High School after completing the 11th grade in 1974 (National Honor Society) when he passed the GED test. That fall, he entered Palm Beach Atlantic College in West Palm Beach, Florida, and CLEP-tested out of his freshman year. During this time, Shane met his wife, Ginger, and they married on April 27, 1975.

He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Campbellsville College in Campbellsville, Kentucky, on December 17, 1976, with a B.A. in Religion. He later earned a Master of Science in Mathematics and Computer Science from Florida State University on June 12, 1981. After attending graduate school at Rutgers University in East Brunswick, New Jersey, he completed his Ph.D. in Computer Science at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on December 31, 1991. His dissertation on Artificial Intelligence has been cited in at least nine academic publications. Shane was the family’s beloved math tutor, helping his children and grandchildren succeed in math from elementary school through college.

Shane had a strong work ethic. He began working in his parents’ greenhouse as a teenager and always held a job while attending college. After graduating from FSU, Shane worked for IBM in Boca Raton, Florida. While at IBM, he received multiple division awards, a COMDEX Best New Product Award, and a U.S. patent in handwriting recognition. He went on to work for several start-up companies, including Single Point Financial, Bruce Consulting Inc., and PALS USA. He also taught classes at FSU and served as a full-time professor at Nova Southeastern University.

Shane and Ginger enjoyed traveling together. Some of their favorite destinations included Boston, New York, San Francisco, Cozumel, the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Napa Valley, the Virgin Islands, and Alaska. Family trips to Tennessee were a cherished tradition, complete with the Bruce Family Bowling Tournament. Shane loved playing in church softball leagues, men's soccer leagues, and coaching basketball at his daughter’s school and in a church league for teen boys. As age made these activities harder to continue, he became his children’s and grandchildren’s biggest sports fan, often traveling out of state to visit and cheer them on.

Shane was always busy serving the Lord through his church. He played keyboard and sang in the praise band, taught adult Sunday School, served as a deacon, and led young boys in RA’s while they built their Pinewood Derby cars. He also gave up many Saturdays to assist with construction projects at two churches, helping to build sanctuaries and education buildings.

More than anything, Shane loved his big, ever-growing family. He was always happy to welcome one more. He is survived by his loving wife of 50 years and 3 months, Martha Virginia “Ginger” Bruce, and their three children:

- Andrew Shane Bruce (Cristine) of Deerfield Beach, FL

- Patricia Susan Lee (Roger) of Papillion, NE

- Virginia Leigh Peters (Steven) of Clearwater, FL

He is also survived by two brothers, Shawn and Tim Bruce; a host of cousins in Crossville, TN; thirteen grandchildren — Kristin (Robbie), Danielle (Dan), Erik, Matthew, Riley, Caleb, Connor, Marcus, Steven Jr., Travis, Arianna, Madilynn, and Ethan; three great-grandchildren (with one more expected in December); two bonus grandchildren; and one bonus great-grandchild.

Shane was preceded in death by his father Wilker, mother Jean, brother Gary, and sister Patricia.

As much as we loved our life with Shane and miss him beyond words, we are grateful for all he gave us and hold fast to our Lord’s enduring promise — that we will see each other again in glory.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to a cause dear to Shane’s heart:

Feeding the Fosters Inc.

2519 McMullen Booth Rd., Suite 510-214

Clearwater, FL 33761

https://www.feedingthefostersinc.com

Celebration of Life Service

Date: Saturday, September 6, 2025

Time: 10:00 AM

Location: Calvary Church, 110 N. McMullen Booth Rd., Clearwater, FL 33756