On August 4, 1939,  Bruce Whittlesey Clatterbuck burst into this world full of energy and curiosity, where he joined his sister, Phyllis Jane Clatterbuck. A whirlwind, family lore said his mother found him on top of the refrigerator when he was 9 months old.  He grew up on the campus of the Oregon State School for the Deaf, where his parents, Marvin Bennett and Margaret Wood Whittlesey Clatterbuck, were educators.  The beautiful campus became his playground where he could roam and explore, and where he learned to do woodworking and tinker with cars. Brothers; David Bennett Clatterbuck and Gary Farrow Clatterbuck soon followed. 

He often accompanied his dad to the State Capitol, where he and his siblings would run in the halls, and into the offices.  His middle school teacher was the future Governor’s wife.

In 1950, he attended a Billy Graham Crusade in Portland, Oregon with his father, where he began his relationship with Jesus, which would set the course for his life and ministry. 

Bruce graduated from North Salem High School in 1957. He moved to Portland to attend Multnomah School of the Bible where he met a pretty little brunette from Ladd Hill Oregon.  You knew it had to be true love because he had to pick berries in the summer to pay for the gas to go and visit her. On June 11, 1960, the day after graduation, Marjorie West and Bruce were married in Newberg Oregon.  He finished his undergraduate degree in History at Cascade College and after a call to ministry received his Master of Divinity degree at Western Seminary in Portland Oregon, in 1965.  He was ordained to the ministry on August 25, 1968.  In 1975 he earned his Doctor of Ministry from California Graduate School of Theology.

Daughters, Cathy Ann and Karen were born in Portland, during the seminary years. He did youth work while he was in school, including a church in Paradise Washington, Prineville, Oregon and 5 years at Calvary Presbyterian Church in Portland.  In 1968, he accepted his first Pastoral ministry call  at Riverview Baptist Church in Pittsburg, California and the family moved to the land of Sunshine. In 1971, he was called to Grace Baptist Church in San Leandro where he ministered until 1979, when he was invited to become the Director of The Conservative Baptist Association of Northern California. They moved to San Jose, where he mentored, shepherded and served as a “minister to ministers” until his retirement in 2005. Under his direction the association grew from 70 to 140 churches. 

Bruce drove more than a million miles during his ministry as general director, which meant he had to replace his cars frequently so his hobby became fixing-up wrecked cars with low mileage..  He loved tinkering and was always bringing home some broken down heap and to our amazement would put it back together again and make it run.   

He loved a good bargain, whether it be at a garage sale, Goodwill or other junk shops.  He loved showing us his latest deal, and telling the story behind it. 

Bruce was a true extrovert who could strike up a conversation with anyone, and would listen to others interests.  If his grandchildren were into some new fangled thing, he would research it, then would start keeping an eye out for it on his bargain hunting adventures. 

Bruce was a voracious reader.  He taught himself speed reading, and read several books a week until he had his stroke. He was never afraid of trying new things.  After his stroke, his grandson taught him how to listen to audio books. 

Bruce’s sense of humor was legendary.  There were no bad-dad jokes left untold and he could out-pun the best of them, leaving us all groaning.

When he retired in 2005, he did two things; He joined the Lion’s club, and he took up the bagpipes. We didn’t know where the idea for the bagpipes came from, until he took a DNA test and learned that he was 54% Scottish.  Who knew?  Clatterbuck doesn’t sound very Scottish!

Bruce and Marge enjoyed travels that took them across the world to Africa, Europe, The Philippines, Canada, and most of the states in the US.  But Bruce’s favorite place was Costa Rica, where he had some dental work done, which he raved about. He sounded like a travel agent when he talked about it.  We have the address of the dentist there, if you are interested.

His favorite role was Grandpa.  He adored his grandchildren, and loved spending time with them whether it was going fishing (which HE hated, but the kids loved), or going to Disneyland or just hanging out with them. He always was interested in their lives and loved them deeply.

Bruce and Marge were married almost 64 years and have two married daughters; Cathy Murahashi (Kent) of Bellevue, Washington, and Karen Meyer (Marshall) of Parma, Idaho.  They have five grandchildren: Laura, Holly, and David Murahashi of Washington, Josue Villanueva of Parma, Idaho, and Alicia Villanueva of Reno, Nevada.

Bruce’s sister, Phyllis Clatterbuck passed away in 2019. Bruce’s brothers; David (Karen) Clatterbuck lives in Ventura, California and Gary (Joy)Clatterbuck resides in Arroyo Grande, California.

Bruce entered the gates of heaven to meet his Savior after a brief illness on April 25, 2024 at his home in Fruitland, Idaho, where he resided for the last 5 years.

He was dearly loved by his family and friends and his special pal, Snoopy the cat. We will miss his terrible jokes and the joy he brought to all of us. If you are missing Bruce, have a chocolate chip cookie and a diet Coke in his honor.