Bruce Charles Jorden was born on June 3, 1935 in Philadelphia, PA, just ahead of his twin sister Jane Ellen, to his parents Arthur Willie and Marian Eastburn Jorden. Bruce lived in Philadelphia and attended Dobbins High School before joining the US Air Force. His first duty station took him to Tierra Amarilla, NM, where he learned to be an air traffic controller. He met his first wife, Sue Dunnam, there and they were married in 1957 in Albuquerque. Their first child, Nancy Lynn, arrived in 1961 just before they were transferred to Massachusetts and New Jersey for a brief time. Bruce was transferred to Palmdale, CA, to direct air traffic above the Mojave Desert where their second child, Barbara Joan, arrived in 1964. Bruce embraced the California lifestyle learning to love golf, visiting the beach, and exploring the many state and National parks driving his Winnebago motor home. He loved having his home-away-from-home and traveled thousands of miles, marveling at the giant Sequoias, the idyllic farms of the midwest, the barrier islands of the Atlantic, the pounding of the Pacific surf, and everything in-between. Bruce was drawn to the water wherever he was. He insisted on a pool in their Lancaster backyard and many happy memories were made with friends and family beside the pool. Bruce also was an accomplished artist and craftsman. He crafted furniture, carved figurines with many personalities, and he painted many works of art. He was skillful with his hands and his mind was nimble at finding solutions to many household problems. 1972 brought a move to Boise, ID, where Bruce began several businesses, including crafting custom golf clubs. Bruce loved sports and spent many years as a football referee and baseball umpire for area high schools and optimist sports clubs. Bruce came to love his Boise State Broncos when he attended the university and received his Bachelor of Applied Sciences degree. He finally retired for good when he met and married Mary Ann Harper Van Gilder Stark in Boise, and the two soon moved to Springfield, OR, for Mary Ann’s work. Bruce loved their home there, but continued his wanderlust and they traveled as much as possible in their latest motor home. After Mary Ann’s retirement, they returned to Boise but quickly became snowbirds and began spending their winters in Arizona. Bruce was in Sun City, AZ, when he passed on January 9, 2023, surrounded by friends and family.
Bruce is preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Marian. He is survived by his sister Jane Bean of Elizabeth, PA, by his loving wife Mary Ann, his daughter Nancy and her husband, Michael Sharp, daughter Barbara Jorden and her husband John Hetherington. Bruce loved his seven, beautiful grandchildren: Abbey, Jonathan, Ellen, Skye, Kevin, Micah, and Lauren. He also leaves behind the delights of his life, his great grandchildren Peyton, Serena, and Stephen. In addition, he is survived by his bonus family, Mary Ann’s children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.sunlandmemorial.com for the Jorden family.
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