Walter Bruce Marine, avid golfer
Walter Bruce Marine, 78, of Rehoboth Beach, passed away Monday, June 12, 2023, at ChristianaCare Hospital in Newark. Bruce was born Sept. 15, 1944, in West Chester, Pa., son of the late George P. and Charlotte (Cavanaugh) Marine.
Bruce was a 1962 graduate of Brown Vocational Technical High School in Wilmington, where he excelled in all sports. As captain of the football team, he was the All-State and County scoring champion in football. He was also captain of the basketball team and Bruce earned his varsity letters in baseball, football, and basketball. He went on to graduate from Welsey College in Dover in 1964, where he was the MVP and junior college All-American, earning varsity letters in football and basketball. Bruce was captain of the UConn football team, president of the Sigma Chi Epsilon fraternity (football frat) at UConn and played semipro as a lineman for the Philadelphia Eagles and Baltimore Colts. He went on to earn his bachelor’s degree in advertising from the University of Connecticut. Bruce’s career path led him to a long and successful career as an insurance broker, where he met hundreds of people and forged many lasting friendships in his work. Bruce married the love of his life, Annette Travagline, and the two of them started a family. They would spend the next 50-plus years together, creating many wonderful memories.
Bruce was an avid golfer, and he had a brotherly love for all of his golf buddies. His friends affectionately dubbed him, “The Machine.” His golf swing was so good, that every ball flew straight down the fairway. Above all, the time spent with his family was what he cherished most. He was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, sportsman and friend, and his warm personality will be forever missed by his friends and family.
In addition to his parents, Bruce was preceded in death by his brother, Gary Marine; and his brother-in-law, Ronald A. Travagline. He is survived by his beloved wife, Annette; his sons, Bruce Patrick and Eric Paul Marine; his brother, Alan Marine (Cathy); his grandson, Anthony Bruce Marine; and his granddaughter, Caroline Paige Marine.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, June 22, at St. Edmond Catholic Church, 409 King Charles Ave., Rehoboth Beach, where friends may visit one hour before the mass. Bruce’s family would like to request that everyone who attends the mass wear their best golf shirt as a tribute to him.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions in Bruce’s memory to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, Kansas 66675-8516, woundedwarriorproject.org.
Visit Bruce’s Life Memorial webpage and sign his virtual guestbook at parsellfuneralhomes.com.
