Bruce Wesley Miller

April 11, 1923 - March 4, 2012

Bruce Wesley Miller, son of Stephen Carl Miller, Sr. originally of Illinois, and Irma Amanda Bruce originally of Pennsylvania, was born in Los Angeles. Bruce’s earliest years were spent with his mother, father, and older brother, Stephen Carl Miller, Jr., in Independence, CA. It was there that both boys had their introduction to the great outdoors and the car and tool businesses. The family relocated to LA where Bruce spent much of his time on his grandparents’ farm in Torrance. On this farm and in the backyard of his family home, Bruce honed his love of farming and animal husbandry. Bruce worked in the family tool business while attending Poly High School. At Poly, Bruce was a member of the track team and ASB president. After graduating, Bruce attended USC where he ran track. He was chosen to participate in the ’44 Olympics, but due to the War the games were not held. Bruce joined the Navy in 1943 where he served as a carrier-based fighter pilot. After the war, Bruce returned to USC, graduating with a degree in business. He married his high school sweetheart, Shirley Busching, and they had two children, Barbara and Wes. Bruce opened his own tool company, CTS, which he grew into a multi-state business. Bruce retired from the tool business and redirected his talents and energy into real estate and ranching. Bruce was always an adventurer. He and his brother went on many fabulous hunting and fishing trips in the US, Canada, and Mexico. He loved to waterski and taught anyone who wanted to learn. He also enjoyed playing practical jokes, and no one was safe from his creative pranks on birthdays and April Fool’s Day. Bruce and Shirley enjoyed going to Walker Lake in the Sierra and to their ranch outside Dorris, CA. They shared these two beautiful spots with friends, family, and his beloved dogs. It was at these locations he taught his grandchildren how to fish, shoot, ride horses, hunt for arrowheads, and ride motorcycles. Bruce and Shirley traveled with friends to Bermuda, the Indy 500, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, the Panama Canal, the Mississippi River, and the waterways of the Northeast. After Shirley’s passing, Bruce traveled with his daughter to Scotland, to the rivers of the Northwest, to Alaska, to the Galapagos Islands, and to Antarctica.

Bruce was predeceased by his son Wes and his wife Shirley. He is survived by his brother Carl and Carl’s wife Karolyn; his daughter Barbara and her husband George Hiller; his three grandchildren David, Brian and Lisa; his nephew Steve Miller; his niece Leslie Parodi and her husband Don; and his niece Lori Bath and her husband Dan and their three children Danielle, Michelle, and Kellie.

A memorial service will be held at Glendale Forest Lawn at the Wee Kirk o’ the Heather, March 19 at 1:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the USC track program.