Bruce Dean Chamblin, Sr

Bruce Dean Chamblin, Sr, age 77, of Freeport, Florida entered into the arms of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on September 30, 2020. He was born in Indianapolis, Indiana on January 3, 1943 to George Mason Chamblin and Precious Maxine Chamblin Phillippe, both of them preceding him in death. His dad George Mason was killed while serving in the U.S. Army during World War II in France while Bruce was still an infant. Bruce, having never known his dad, had spoken recently of his excitement of meeting his dad one day soon in heaven. And he is finally reunited with him.

He is survived by his loving wife of 58 years Alice Faye Chamblin who he met when he was 16 yrs old and she was just fifteen. She was the love of his life and adored her so much. She was his “Little Bit”, “Poopsie” or “Fayzie” depending on the day. His very last spoken wish was to know that she would be taken care of. He had four children and four “children-in-love” (their spouses); Bruce Dean Chamblin, Jr (Kelley) of Destin, Florida, Richard Mason Chamblin (Amanda) of Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, Cheryl Renee Adair (Kevin) of Ft. Mill, South Carolina and Traci Michelle Hall (Brandon) of Santa Rosa Beach, Florida; his six grandchildren Alexandra Renee Landers (Patrick) of Destin, Florida, Ashlee Renay Frazelli (Tony) Seattle, Washington, Danielle Brooke Willis of Boca Raton, Florida, George Mason Chamblin of Coaling, Alabama who bears the honor of being named after his great-grandfather, Lexi Reagan Hall of Santa Rosa Beach, Florida and Kennedy Alyssa Hall of Santa Rosa Beach, Florida; and one great-grandson Lucas Kenneth Landers of Destin, Florida. He had a brother; David Goodman Phillippe (Sherry) of Gadsden, Alabama, and a sister; Barbara Ann McCollum of Hendersonville, NC.

Bruce graduated from Terry Parker High School in Jacksonville, Florida in 1960 where he sat first chair clarinet in the marching band. He attended University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida from 1960 to 1962. He had a successful career in the automotive industry which included owning two Shell service stations in Jacksonville, Florida and continued in the auto industry until retirement.

From a very early age, Bruce had a real passion and love for music being gifted to play several instruments. He also sang tenor in various church and community choirs and the latest being The Ecumenical Choir of Walton County of which he was a current member. He was very community minded and supportive of first responders, serving years ago as the chief commander of the Sheriff’s 4 Wheel Drive Posse of Duval County, Florida and as a volunteer firefighter in Northport, Alabama.

He was a loving husband, father, and grandfather and would rather be with his family than anywhere else. He was a godly man of faith, served as a deacon, and lived a life that was an example to many. He was very sentimental and loved deeply while also being deeply loved. He was a man of his word, full of wisdom, strong but gentle, tender-hearted, dependable, always there to help, and the list of his amazing qualities could go on forever. He was the “king” of bringing things back to life instead of getting rid of them. He could sleep standing up, loved chocolate, and loved pork and beans. And all who were close to him loved and appreciated these things because it made him who he was. While we, the family, are so thrilled to know he is in the presence of his Lord, we will sorely miss his love and influence in our lives.

His Celebration of Life service will be held on Sunday, October 4, 2020 at Heritage Gardens Funeral Home & Cemetery. Visitation starts in the Chapel at 1:00 PM with service being held at 2:00 PM. David Phillippe will be leading the chapel service and Pastor Shawn Baker will be closing the service at graveside. Burial will follow.

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