Bruce Holland

Darvil Bruce Holland, always known as Bruce, died in Oklahoma City, OK on October 13, 2012. He was born in Pontotoc County on October 6, 1934. He attended Vanoss High School and went on to East Central State College attaining a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education in 1956. His love of history made him a natural in teaching history and government while his passion for playing basketball, made it even more rewarding that he coached basketball at Bunker Hill, Kansas. His teaching career extended to Mexican Hat, Utah which gave him a rich cultural experience. He then worked in the oil field and eventually started numerous oil related businesses as an entrepreneur, some of which were Holland Energy, Dozers, Inc. and Vacco in Oklahoma City. His business ventures later extended into New Mexico and Texas. Bruce married Gerry Palmer Holland in 1984. They resided in Tulsa where he worked for Continental Drilling, while Gerry completed medical school. He continued to work in the oil field as they moved to Oklahoma City, Temple, Texas then on to Borger and Amarillo, Texas where Gerry practiced medicine. They moved back to Oklahoma City in 2009. He is preceded in death by his parents, Bruce and Artie Holland, brother, Ted Holland and son, Grant Holland. He is survived by his wife Dr. Gerry Palmer Holland of Nichols Hills, OK; his sister Noma (Tom) Sullivan of Edmond, OK; brother, William R. Holland (Donna) of Jupiter, Florida; sons, Scot (Diane) Holland, Ben Holland, and Colby Holland; and his daughter, Tanya (Brian) Garrison. His grandchildren are Scotty, Brett and Eric Holland and Luke and Emily Garrison. Bruce’s memorial service will be held at Hahn-Cook/Street & Draper Chapel, 2 p.m., Saturday, October 20, 2012. Inurnment will be at Rose Hill Cemetery in Tulsa at 11:30 a.m., Friday, October 19, 2012. Memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association.