Data source is Beth Arnold Taylor, E-mail ejat53@charter.net
Lila Bruce
August 22, 2005
Biography of Lila Bruce
Lila May Bruce, the daughter of Charles and Anna (Ashdown) Mumma, was born
on May 3, 1903 in Port Byron, Illinois. She passed away on August 22, 2005 in Santa
Monica, California at the age of 102 years, 3 months and 20 days.
Lila and her family moved into the Nelson area when she was 6 years old. They
had bought a farm north east of town. She attended the country school which was only a
half mile away. Lila and her sister Elva attended Nelson High school. They had to come
to school by horse and buggy. Leaving it in a barn that the school provided. She and Paul Bruce became sweethearts during high school. Her father died when she was a junior in high school and the family moved into Nelson at that time. When Lila graduated from high school, the family went to Lincoln where she attended Wesleyan University and received her normal degree for teaching. While at Wesleyan she played basketball and track and won a letterman sweater of which she was very proud. After graduation she went to Burke, South Dakota and taught science and coached basketball for three years. Returning to Lincoln, Nebraska she taught briefly and in 1928 she married Paul Bruce, her high school sweetheart. After her son Robert was born in Lincoln they moved to Cleveland, Ohio where their second son, John was born.
Paul's business took them to Toledo, Ohio and on to Detroit, Michigan. The family moved to Santa Monica, California in 1945 and she taught in the public elementary schools for more than 30 years. She was very active in her church; the Order of the Eastern Star; P.E.O., The United Methodist Women, and The retired Teachers Association. She greatly loved her family and to travel.
Preceded in death by her parents, husband, Paul in 1996, one brother, Ralph Mumma and one sister, Elva Mumma. Surviving family members include her sons Robert and John both of Santa Monica, California; five grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren, other relatives and a host of friends.
Her Celebration of Life Services were held on Saturday, October 1, 2005 at 10:00
AM from the Nelson Community United Church of Christ in Nelson, Nebraska with
Rev. Dr. Stephen Berry and Rev. Fred Snyder officiating. Congregational hymns were
"Rejoice, the Lord is King" and "His Eye Is On the Sparrow". "In The Garden" was Sung by Stephen Thayer.
Eastern Star Service conducted at the Nelson Cemetery.
Interment was in the Nelson Cemetery at Nelson, Nebraska.
Condolences may be sent in care of www.pricefuneralhomes.com
Klawitter-Price Funeral Home of Nelson, Nebraska was in charge of the
arrangements.
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