Robert Gordon Bruder (Bob) passed away on Easter Sunday March 31st at the age of 87. He was born to Sam and Lydia Bruder on July 16, 1936, and grew up in Benton Harbor, Michigan, along with his brother Ron and sister Jeanette. When he was 15 the family moved to Glendora, California.
While attending Citrus Union High School, Bob met the love of his life, Sharon Moline; who was to become his partner in ministry and music for their 65 years of marriage. They were married in 1955, shortly out of high school, and soon afterward began expanding their family to include David, Barbara, Kathleen, and Tim. The children grew up in an environment of faithfulness, service to others, and music.
Bob and Sharon served together at the Covina AG Church for 35 years, where he played saxophone and they both sang in the choir. It was there that Bob began taking on leadership roles - at age 19 he was the church’s Christ’s Ambassadors President in charge of three weekly services for about 100 youth. He and Sharon began a lifetime of service in missions and the local church, making many deep friendships along the way. For 49 years of their marriage, Bob held both local and national leadership roles in Light for the Lost, a program to raise funds for gospel literature for missionaries.
Bob’s occupation for 45 years was as a tool designer and mold maker in the plastics industry. His hobbies included card games, fishing, and hunting, but mostly he loved to fly. He and Sharon logged many hours flying a small airplane for business, missions, and family trips.
In his retirement years Bob served as Associate Pastor at Heritage Church and Romoland Assembly in Menifee. He also blessed many people with first-person presentations in costume as Hosea and John the Revelator at local churches.
His greatest accomplishments were that he gave the whole of his life to his Lord and savior Jesus Christ, his wife Sharon, his family, and a life lived in service to others.