Bruce Yarnall Obituary

Bruce Alan Yarnall Charleston - Bruce Alan Yarnall, Charleston, SC, died February 20, 2021 at Heartland of West Ashley. He was born December 10, 1933 in Washington D.C., the son of Floyd L. and Lillian Burnside Yarnall. Bruce graduated from Waterford (OH) High School in 1951. He served in the United States Army for 2 years at Fort Knox, KY, receiving an Honorable Discharge. He then graduated from Marietta College (OH), with a BS in Chemistry. Bruce furthered his education with a Master's degree in Chemistry from Cleveland State University (OH) and a Master of Business Administration from The Citadel (SC). Bruce was married in 1957 to Robbie Lee Morris of Watertown, OH. They moved to Cleveland, OH, where he was a chemist for Lubrizol Corporation for 10 years. In 1970, the family escaped the Midwest winters by moving to Charleston, SC, where he worked as a chemist and supervisor for Bayer Corporation for 24 years. Bruce was a longtime member of the American Chemical Society. He retired in 1994, after which he worked part-time for the Post and Courier as a photographer and as a volunteer tax preparer for H&R Block and AARP. Bruce was a member of the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Charleston for 51 years. Bruce loved everything about being on the water. He was an avid fisherman and boater, taking many fishing trips to Florida and the North Carolina coast with family and friends. He loved sailing, competing in multiple regattas in the Charleston area. Bruce was a voracious reader and loved playing trivia games. He enjoyed taking photographs, eventually using that talent in a post-retirement part time job at the local newspaper. He enjoyed staying fit, and hitting the gym 3 or 4 times each week. Bruce and Robbie traveled extensively, visiting 48 of the 50 states, as well as Spain and Mexico. After retirement, Bruce and Robbie enjoyed cruising, visiting places such as Alaska and the Caribbean, among others. Bruce was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He loved teaching his kids (and then his grandchildren) about the ocean, fishing, boating, and even waterskiing. He was always taking the grandkids to the Aquarium or out on the boat. Bruce was proud that, even in his 70's, he could still pop up on waterskis! His grandchildren fondly remember trips to the end of the cul-de-sac to catch crabs, spending time on the boat, adventures at the pool, playing Sorry, visiting the museum, batting practice in the front yard, trips to the beach and to Ohio, jumping in big leaf piles, reading their favorite book The Three Billy Goats Gruff, and making "hand sandwiches" when they were little. He is fondly remembered by his grandsons as "the best fisherman ever". Bruce is preceded in death by his parents, Floyd and Lillian, brother Robert Yarnall, sister-in-law, Suzanne Yarnall, and son, Stephen Lynn Yarnall. Bruce is survived by his wife of 63 years, Robbie Lee Yarnall, daughters; Lee Ann Hively (Daryl) of Oconomowoc, WI and Debbie Van Deventer (Jonathan) of Monticello, GA. Grandchildren; Alan Nandrasy (Suzanne), Morgan Siler (Joel), Lindsey Nandrasy, Dan Hively, and Olivia Hively, and great-grandchildren; Neva and Francis Nandrasy, four nieces and one nephew. The family wishes to extend their deepest gratitude to the staff at Heartland of West Ashley and Heartland Hospice for taking such very good care of him. A Celebration of his Life will be held on Saturday, May 1, 2021 in the Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1157 Sam Rittenberg Blvd, Charleston, SC 29407, at 11:00 am. The family will receive friends following the service in Covenant Hall. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made to the Westminster Presbyterian Church Preschool Program or the American Heart Association. Arrangements by J. Henry Stuhr, Inc., West Ashley Chapel, 3360 Glenn McConnell Parkway, Charleston, SC 29414. A memorial message may be sent to the family by visiting our website at www.jhenrystuhr.com. Visit our guestbook at legacy.com/obituaries/charleston