Major Bruce Bennett Holland, USAF (Ret.)

Major Bruce B. Holland, USAF (Ret.), passed away on September 1, 2025, in Mansfield, Texas, just days shy of his 89th birthday.

Bruce will be laid to rest at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, at Dallas Fort Worth National Cemetery, 2000 Mountain Creek Parkway, Dallas, Texas 75211.

Born on September 11, 1936, in Norfolk, Virginia, Bruce was the beloved son of Randolph and Irma (Bennett) Holland. From a young age, he displayed a deep curiosity for the world around him—a passion that would stay with him for life.

Bruce graduated from the United States Air Force Academy and proudly served his country for 20 years. As a navigator on the KC-135, he dedicated his career to aviation, rising to the rank of Major. His love for flying was not only a profession but a lifelong calling.

After retiring from the Air Force, Bruce continued to share his aviation knowledge with others. He worked as a simulator instructor for American Airlines for a short time and later as a flight instructor with Lufthansa Airlines. In his later years, he continued teaching as a private flight instructor, mentoring the next generation of pilots with the same discipline and passion that defined his own career.

Bruce was also a man of many talents and interests. He had a deep appreciation for history and a lifelong love of music, especially jazz. He played both piano and guitar, filling his home with the sounds of a life well-lived.

He was a devoted husband and a loving father who cherished time with his family above all else. A man of quiet strength and enduring kindness, Bruce attended Walnut Ridge Baptist Church in Mansfield with his wife.

He studied engineering in college, reflecting his deep intellect and practical mind, and he approached both his career and his personal life with thoughtful dedication and integrity.

Bruce leaves behind a legacy of service, love, and wisdom. He will be remembered not only for his accomplishments in the skies but for the warmth, guidance, and unwavering support he gave to those blessed to know him.

He is survived by his wife, Mary (Bedwell) Holland; sons, Bruce Holland, Jr., and wife Cindy, Steve Taylor, and wife Angie, and Chris Taylor; daughter, Caron Palmer, and husband Greg; 11 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; beloved dog, Captain; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousin.

Bruce is preceded in death by his parents, Randolph and Irma Holland; brother, Mason Holland; and sister, Joan.