VINALHAVEN — Bruce D. Kelwick, 89, passed away Wednesday, August 24, 2022 at Coastal Manor in Falmouth.

Born May 25, 1933 on Vinalhaven, he was the son of Kristen and Hildur (Thulin) Kelwick. Graduating from Vinalhaven High School in 1952, Bruce enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in December of 1952.

While in basic training at Sampson Air Force base in Geneva, New York, he achieved the highest marksmanship score in his group, obtaining a score of 187 out of a possible 200. Bruce attended specialist schools in Japan while being non-commissioned officer in charge of communications at Guam AC + W site. He was also stationed at Pope Air Force Base, NC and Shaw Air Force Base, SC. Bruce was honorably discharged on December 8, 1956.

After being discharged he went to work at Raytheon in the Missile Systems R&D retiring from there in 1993. Bruce lived in Merrimack, New Hampshire until the death of his wife, Gloria Newman, in 1994. He returned to Vinalhaven permanently in 2000 to be with an old friend, Mary Warren, who passed away in 2008.

Bruce loved making wood crafts such as planters, benches and birds. He greatly enjoyed watching sports and history shows on TV in his shop with his buddies. Later his favorite shows were cooking shows.

Bruce was a member of the American Legion and the VFW, and was the oldest veteran on Vinalhaven.

Bruce is survived by one sister, Betsey Hachfield, of Faribault, Minnesota; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his sisters Dot Tolman, Jean MacDonald, and Emily Dyer; and his brothers, Carl Kelwick, Aimer Kelwick and Robert Kelwick.

A graveside service with military honors will be held in the spring of 2023 at the family plot in Cummings Cemetery, Vinalhaven.

Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland.

To share a memory or condolence with Bruce’s family, please visit their Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com.