Bruce Bottom

Bruce C. Bottum, 83, of Lafayette passed away at the Mulberry Health and Rehabilitation Center, Mulberry, IN, on Thursday, November 28, 2013, at 8:47 a.m.

Bruce was born in Lafayette, IN, on March 22, 1930. He was the son of the late Joe Carroll and Florence Margaret (nee Brown) Bottum, natives of South Dakota. Bruce married Diane Elaine Kilgore on May 14, 1983 in Indianapolis, IN. She survives.

Bruce graduated from West Lafayette Senior High School in 1948 and from Purdue University in 1952 with a B.S. degree in Economics. He was a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and President of the house from 1950-1951.

Bruce served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War in the Signal Corps as a Radio Tele-type Sergeant on the 38th parallel and he relayed news of the truce from Munsan-I to Tokyo, a copy that still remains in his possessions. After the Korean War, Bruce attended the University of Cincinnati Design School in Art and Design from 1955-1956.

Bruce was Promotion Manager for the Cincinnati Enquirer (1957-1960) and was the first Chairman of the firms's Middle Management Board. Joining Cummins Engine Company in Columbus, IN, he was the Advertising and Promotion Manager for Domestic & Worldwide Advertising, literature and Public Relations (1960-1967). He formed two companies in Columbus, IN, in 1967; one sole proprietorship Advertising Agency and one partnership purchasing a local marina.

Bruce returned to West Lafayette to attend Purdue University (1980-1982) and earned a M.S. in Art (Calligraphy). He established Eulogies Inc. and lettered an estimated 4000 eulogies for regional undertakers in Indiana.

He retired in 2000 and wrote several books, among them Korea, the War that Wasn't (Library of Congress), Eddie & Me (late brother who was the President of Continental Bank in Chicago), Grandpa Beaver (children's coloring book) and submitted cartoons under the name Brucie , appearing in the Lafayette Journal & Courier. He was a life-long golfer, handicapping and refereeing a dozen retired golfers daily for 10 years on the "old" Purdue North Course.

In 1956, Bruce married Annette Winter Ball and they had six children. Cecily B. Schneider, MacKenzie "Mac" S. Bottum (Michelle), Jessica B. Hoagland (Craig), Joshua L. Bottum (Astrid), Annette B. Bottum (Hassan Musa), Rebecca R. Bottum and 9 grandchildren.

A military memorial gravesite service will be held in the Grandview Cemetery, West Lafayette, on Saturday, December 7th, at 1:00 p.m. with Dr. J. Philip Klinger officiating.

Memorial contributions may be made in Bruce's memory to the Salvation Army, Lafayette Chapter. Condolences may be sent on line to www.mausfuneralhome.com.

Published in the Journal & Courier from Dec. 3 to Dec. 4, 2013

 
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