Charles Ballard Bruce III, son of Charles Ballard Bruce Jr. and Dessie Mae (Kellem) Bruce was born on September 1, 1938 in Anderson, South Carolina and departed this life on August 12, 2006 in Springfield, MO at the age of 67 years, 11 months and 11 days.

Charles was affectionately called "Chuck" by his friends and family. Chuck was a resident of the Ava community since 1995. He was a retired State Peace Officer with the Dept. of Corrections in CA. On September 23, 1976 Chuck and Marian Sue (Hull) Smith were united in marriage in Las Vegas, Nevada. Chuck was a veteran and served his country with the U.S. Navy from 1953 to 1961. Chuck also had served with the Highway Patrol in San Francisco, CA for eight years. He had AA & BA Degree in Criminal Law, and was a Paralegal also. He held a P.O.S.T. Commission for Calif Correctional Peace Officers and Eighth Degree Black Belt in Subato, in Indo China. He was a Correctional Sergeant at Calif Inst for Men for 10 years and past President of (Calif Correctional Peace Officers Assoc) of Calif Inst for men Chino, Calif. He has been a member of that union for 20 yrs. Chuck was a member of the Ava Full Gospel Church and also had supported the New Life Family Worship in Mansfield, MO.

Chuck was preceded in death by his father, Charles B. Bruce, Jr.
He is survived by his wife, Sue of the home in Ava, his mother, Dessie Mae Bruce, Malvern, PA, four children and their spouses, Kim J. Bruce, Springfield, MO, Tammy V. & Ron May, Fair Play, MO, Michael D.A. & Michelle Bruce, Mtn. Grove, MO and Kenneth E. & Shallan Bruce, Ava, MO, eight grandchildren, Brittany, Stephanie, Michael Jr., Daniel, Aubrey, Little Brittany, Tailer & Cody, three great grandchildren, Isaac , Taylor and Dillon, three sisters, Barbara and husband JC. Snyder, Macon, Georgia, Patsy Kay, Warner Robins, Georgia and Gloria Gallian and husband George of Phoenixville, PA, many nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.

Services for Chuck are Wednesday, August 16, 2006, 4:00 pm at the Clinkingbeard Chapel with the Pastors Mark Schuster and Doyne "Butch" McCleary officiating.
Interment will be in the Denney Cemetery with full military honors by American Legion Post 112 and VFW 5993. Visitation is Tuesday from 7 to 8 pm in the funeral home. Family requests memorials to the American Lung Assoc., America Heart Assoc. or American Diabetes Assoc. Services are being conducted by Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava, MO.