Rebecca (Becky) Dobson Bruce, 78, of Madison, passed away suddenly Tuesday, December 17, 2019. She was born Rebecca Eunice Dobson in Greer, SC, on October 30, 1941, as the oldest of 5 siblings to Leonard and Eunice Dobson. She graduated from Greer High School in 1960 as the student body president and valedictorian. She went on to attend Winthrop College and graduated in 1963 with a Bachelor of Arts in English. After graduation, Becky married her high school sweetheart, Miles Melvin Bruce, Jr, and they were happily married for 56 years. They lived in Newport News, VA, Greer, SC, Huntsville, AL, and Madison, AL.
Becky was faithfully devoted to her three daughters, Sandra, Janet, and Erin. She spent countless hours with them sharing her love of music, cooking, reading, and supporting them in their many endeavors. Becky demonstrated unconditional love toward her daughters – most clearly in the nearly 35 years as a selfless caregiver following Janet’s cancer diagnosis and the resulting complications.
After moving to Huntsville, AL, in 1971, they joined Weatherly Heights Baptist Church where they were members for 48 years. Becky was a woman of deep faith and served her church and community through many different roles at WHBC. She taught Sunday School, sang in the choir, played handbells, served on a variety of committees, transported seniors, taught English as a Second Language, and provided leadership as chairman of the deacons.
Throughout her life, Becky displayed a passion for teaching. She began her career as a high school and middle school English teacher. Following the end of her formal career, she continued to use teaching as a way to develop out of class friendships with her ESL students. She was an avid reader and pursued a lifelong interest in learning.
Becky had a great love for music as an expression of the soul. She played the piano and the organ, sang in choirs, and played handbells. She always enjoyed family music sessions where everyone played an instrument, particularly around Christmas.
Becky loved being outdoors, both at home in Alabama and traveling in the western United States and abroad. She was particularly at home in Utah, where she enjoyed visiting national parks, hiking to see a field of blooming wildflowers, or zipping down a treacherous black diamond ski slope with her family and friends. She organized group ski trips to Utah for many years and helped teach her children, grandchildren and others to ski.
She was known for her generous and heartfelt hospitality, through which she showed her love for people of all ages. Her kind, radiant smile welcomed everyone she met.
Becky was preceded in death by her parents and her daughter, Janet. She is survived by her husband, Melvin Bruce. She is also survived by two daughters, Sandra (Bruce) Bowlin of Huntsville and her husband Edwin Bowlin, and Erin (Bruce) Moncure of Cary, NC and her
husband Robinson Moncure. Becky was the loving grandmother of two granddaughters and three grandsons, Bethany Bowlin, Bruce Bowlin, Brooke Bowlin, Caleb Moncure, and Andrew Moncure.
A memorial service will be held at Weatherly Heights Baptist Church on Sunday, January 5, 2020 at 2:30 p.m. The family will greet friends at the church from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. prior to the service.
Memorials may be made to Weatherly Heights Baptist Church.
