Bruce Derwood Chisholm

Bruce was born on August 25, 1931 in Brownfield, Texas to Joe and Annis Chisholm. His family was a family of faith with elders, ministers, and missionaries sprinkled throughout his relatives. His father preached on the weekends, and Bruce would carry the memories of driving to different congregations where his dad was preaching. From this background he also developed a deep belief that he expressed throughout his life in his devotion to church and God.

Bruce was not without trauma in those early years. His mother died from tuberculosis when Bruce was 3 years old. That was a pain and loss that he never completely overcame.

He did find the woman that would be the love of his life when he began dating Onagene Walker in Brownfield. They shared a love that would lead to 72 years of marriage before he lost her to illness in 2024. During that time, they would have two sons, seven grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren. They would also endure four years in the navy, a transition from the navy to California for photography school, and eventually a move to Houston, where Bruce opened a commercial photography studio that he successfully owned and operated for over 50 years.

Faith continued to play a defining role in his life and therefore in his family’s lives. Bruce and Onagene found their church home at Memorial Church of Christ in Houston where he taught class, worked as a deacon for many years, and finally as an elder also for many years. It should not be surprising that after retiring from photography he and Onagene chose to join the Sojourners, which is a missionary group that operates all over the US. They sold their house in Houston and bought an RV, which they lived in fulltime for nine years while doing door knocking, Bible studies, VBS, and meetings at congregations all over the US including Alaska. Their efforts planted the seed of faith in many people, leading to many baptisms and changed lives.

Bruce is survived by one sister, Marjorie Buck and her husband Chuck, and one brother, Claudio Chisholm and his wife Virginia, two sons Andrew and his wife Carol and Paul and his wife Carolyn. Bruce has seven grandchildren – from Andrew: Kelly and her husband Josh, Erin and her husband Kevin, Cullen and his wife Susan, and Ashley and her husband Blake. From Paul: Cary and his wife Leann, Chris and his wife Maegan, and Rachel and her husband Ethan. From them came 16 great-grandchildren: Mackenzie, Cayden, Jaxton, Jayde, and Jentson Chisholm; Ian, Jude, Rowan, and Finn Albertus; Kieran, Evelyn, and Cameron Chisholm; Misha and Nikolai Desjarlais, Desirae Hersch, and Pierce Miller.

He is preceded in death by his wife of 72 years Onagene Chisholm, two brothers Larry and John Chisholm, and one sister Josie Skupin.

Bruce will be remembered for his commitment to God and family, living out his faith in word and deed. His example and wisdom will be deeply missed.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, April 19, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Lake Ridge Chapel, 6025 82nd Street, Lubbock, Texas. A celebration of his life will be held on Monday, April 20, at 10:00 a.m. at Lake Ridge Chapel, followed by a graveside service in Brownfield, Texas.