Bruce Edwin Mccaw

Bruce Edwin McCaw, 96, passed away in Walla Walla October 13, 2024.

Bruce was born August 31, 1928, to Dwight and Ocea McCaw in Prescott, WA. He was the middle child of two brothers, Gordon and Bill. The family moved to Frog Hollow near Lowden when Bruce was seven years old where the family renovated an existing farmhouse without electricity or running water.

Bruce attended primary school at Upper Mud Creek, a one room schoolhouse and graduated from Wa-Hi in 1946. He attended Washington State College, graduating in 1950 with a degree in Agricultural Economics. While at WSC he met Carmen Gleiser who was attending Whitman College and the two were married on September 10, 1950.

Bruce served in the Air Force and was stationed at Naha Air Base in Okinawa, Japan during the Korean War. Following his service, he returned to Walla Walla to farm with his father and brothers where they had a dairy and raised crops and turkeys.

Bruce and Carmen built a house together on the farm where they raised their three sons: Bruce L, Mark, and Robert. It was a family effort, and everyone pitched in with running and managing the farm.

Bruce was a lifelong member of Walla Walla Presbyterian Church, serving on the session and Presbytery for many years. He was a Rotarian and served as a board member for the Western Farmers Association and Columbia Rural Electric. He was especially proud of the work the REA did and the impact rural electrification had on the area he grew up in and lived his life in.

Following retirement Bruce and Carmen had the opportunity to travel visiting places such as New Zealand, Thailand, and Hawaii. Bruce enjoyed working on projects on the farm, reading, staying active in his church and community, and spending time with friends, children and grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his wife of 72 years, Carmen, and his brothers, Gordon and Bill. He is survived by his three sons, Bruce L (Jan), Mark (Deb), Rob (Kim); grandchildren, Angela (Zach), Kevin, Catherine, Lauren (Cooper), Connor, and Ellie (Hayden); and great grandchildren, Nora, Lucas, Claire and Sylvie.

A funeral service will be held on Monday, October 28, 2024, at 11:00 AM, at Walla Walla Presbyterian Church, 325 S 1st Ave, Walla Walla, WA, with Reverend Albert Gillin officiating.

Memorial contributions may be made to The Mercy Ships Organization through the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W Alder St, Walla Walla WA 99362. Friends and family are invited to sign the online guestbook at www.herringgroseclose.com.