Bruce Austin Norvell

Bruce Austin Norvell passed away on February 5, 2026 at the age of 82.

Bruce was born on July 11, 1943 at the Fort Benning military hospital in Columbus, Georgia, to US Army veteran Ralph Norvell and wife, Lillian Austin Norvell. He spent his childhood in Pontiac, Michigan with his parents and sisters Carol Norvell Grubb and Ginny Norvell.

Bruce Norvell is a graduate of Pontiac Central High School and Ohio State University, where he swam on a full scholarship and was an All-Time Letter Winner and a valuable member of the OSU swim team. He earned a degree in finance and, after passing the CPA exam, started his career with Ernst & Ernst (now Ernst & Young). He eventually devoted his career as a public servant with the Internal Revenue Service, where he worked as an IRS agent and retired after nearly 30 years of service.

Bruce loved athletics and was an accomplished runner, swimmer and cyclist. He loved the outdoors and retired from San Diego, California to Hailey, Idaho in 2001 where he enjoyed skate-skiing, cycling, hiking, camping and everyday life with his two border collies, Soffi and Eve.

Bruce was an active member of his community and had a diverse collection of interests. In addition to athletics, Bruce enjoyed technology, reading, and an occasional sewing project. He had an insatiable appetite for learning new things and later in life, he developed a love for ballroom dancing and classical music. He was a regular patron at the Sun Valley Music Festival. One of the highlights of life for Bruce was having his children and grandchildren visit with him in Idaho, enabling him to share his love for sports and the beautiful outdoors with his beloved family.

Bruce is preceded in death by his parents, Ralph and Lillian Norvell. He is survived by his sisters and his four children: Steve Norvell, Eric Norvell, Julie (Dave) Wilson, and Lynn (George) Eastergard, all of Greenville, South Carolina; 12 grandchildren: Savannah Norvell, Katey Norvell, Steven Norvell, Abigail Kelly, David Wilson, Jacob Wilson, Ellie Frazier, Elizabeth Burton, Mark Osborn, Lili Norvell, Margo Norvell and Karmen Norvell; and six great-grandchildren.