Bruce O. Bent, veteran, retired truck driver
Bruce O. Bent, 81, of Selbyville, passed away Monday, Dec. 4, 2023, at Tidal Health Peninsula Regional in Salisbury, Md. He was born Oct. 7, 1942, in Waltham, Mass., son of the late Hannah Catherine (Bent) Houston.
Bruce graduated from John M. Clayton High School Class of 1960. After graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and proudly served onboard the USS Constellation. In 1965, Bruce met the love of his life, Margaret Hudson, and married her Dec. 11. They began their family and shared 57 wonderful years before his passing. Bruce attended Delaware Technical & Community College on a VA grant, receiving his associate degree in data processing. He then obtained his CDL license and made his career driving a truck for Perdue for over 30 years, where he was known as “Whiskers.” He retired in 2005, just shy of driving 2 million miles.
Bruce was a proud member of multiple associations, including Salem Church, Masonic Lodge 37 in Dagsboro, Scottish Rite of Delaware, Improved Order of Redmen Lewes Lodge, Degree of Pocahontas Lewes Lodge, and American Legion Post 24 in Selbyville. He was also a member of the Maryland Retreads Motorcycle Club and Masonic Motorcycle Club International, where he fulfilled his passion for riding his Harley as often as he could, even touring Canada. Bruce loved traveling, going on cruises, and spending time with his family. Always with a smile on his face, he was positive, loving, and a family man above all else.
In addition to his mother, Bruce was preceded in passing by his daughter, Janet Hudson; and his sister, Roxie Brown. He is survived by his wife, Margaret J. Bent; his son, Daniel Bent of Selbyville; his daughter, Sonia Manning and her husband Joseph of Millsboro; his son-in-law, George Hudson I of Dagsboro; his grandchildren, Kristan Miller and her husband Brandon, George Hudson II and Jenna Hudson; his great-grandson, Grayson Miller; and his sisters, Carey Steen and her husband EJ of Dagsboro, Colleen Winterbottom of Willards, Md., Elizabeth Baxley and her husband Clint of Florida, and Dawn Hudson of Roxana.
A funeral with masonic services will be held at 11:30 a.m., Monday, Dec. 18, at Watson Funeral Home, 211 S. Washington St., Millsboro, where friends may call beginning at 10:30 a.m. Interment with military honors will follow services at 1 p.m., at Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Bruce’s name to Selbyville Volunteer Fire Company, 30 N. Main St., Selbyville, DE 19975; or Salem Church, P.O. Box 410, 29 Church St., Selbyville, DE 19975.
Visit Bruce’s Life Memorial webpage and sign his online guestbook at watsonfh.com.
