Virgie Viola Bruce

Virgie Viola Bruce, 89, of Mulberry, Ark., died Thursday, June 28, 2012, in Benton, Ark. She was born Oct. 5, 1922, in Wynne, Ark., to the Rev. Raymond and Dora Butler. She was a graduate of Clarksville High School. She was a teacher at Mulberry Elementary School, where she retired in 1983. She was a member of the Mulberry First Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband of 51 years, James Marion Bruce. She is survived by a daughter, Linda Spaul of Mabelvale, Ark.; two sons, James Bruce of Jacksonville, Ark., and Ronald Bruce of Muldrow, Okla.; three brothers, Alton Butler Pensacola, Fla., Charles Butler of Harrison, Ark., and James Butler of North Little Rock, Ark.; a sister, Martha Beal of Conway, Ark.; seven grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild. Funeral service will be 10 a.m. Monday, July 2, 2012, at First Baptist Church in Mulberry, Ark., with burial at New Cemetery in Mulberry, Ark., under the direction of Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home of Van Buren, Ark.. Pallbearers will be Kevin Bruce, James Spaul, Tyler Dailey, Henry Beard Jr., Izak Beard and Henry Beard III. Honorary pallbearers will be LaRae McElroy, Marsha Gates, Tiffany Beard, Beth Spaul, Holly Spaul and great-grandchildren. The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, July 1, 2012, at Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home of Van Buren, Ark. To place an online tribute, go to www.edwardsvan-alma.com.