Bruce Hadley Ozias....Age 86

Visitation: 6-8pm Friday January 26, 2018 at the Eddy-Birchard Funeral Home
Service: 2 pm Saturday January 27, 2018 at the Wesleyan Church located at 513 15th St. Osawatomie.
Burial: Osawatomie Cemetery
Memorial: USD 367 to benefit student athletes
send c/o Eddy-Birchard Funeral Home
P.O. Box 430
Osawatomie, KS 66064
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Bruce Hadley Ozias age 86 of Osawatomie, KS died Wednesday January 17, 2018 at North Point Skilled
Nursing Home, Paola, KS.
Bruce was born October 11, 1931 in Whittier, CA. He was the youngest of four boys born to Jessie Royer
and Velma June (Vanderberg) Ozias. He grew up in Fullerton, CA where he attended school. Bruce
graduated with the Fullerton High School class of 1950, where Senator, Richard Nixon was the
commencement speaker.
After high school, Bruce enlisted in the United States Navy, serving in Guam during the Korean Conflict.
He was honorably discharged in 1955. He then attended Mt. San Antonio Community College, Pomona,
CA. In 1959, Bruce enrolled in Biola College and majored in Bible. It was there that he met Mary Irene
Dillman. The way Bruce liked to tell it was: “I met my wife at the Church of the Open Door, at Sixth and
Hope Street, in downtown Los Angeles, where Dr. J. Vernon McGee was pastor.” Bruce began his
ministerial studies at Talbot Seminary in 1962. During his senior year he received the first Audrey Talbot
Award for Expository Preaching. He graduated in 1967 with a Master’s in Bible.
Bruce and Irene were married August 31, 1962 in The Wee Kirk of The Heather at Forest Lawn Memorial
Gardens in Glendale, CA. For the first fourteen years of their marriage they made their home in
California. They were blessed with four children: Peter, Charissa, Faith, and Phillip. Bruce’s first
pastorate was Calvary Union Church (4 years) Alhambra, CA. Before moving to Osawatomie he was
Minister of Christian Education at Garden Grove Friends Church. He served that congregation for ten
years. He became a chaplain at the Osawatomie State Hospital in December 1976, and later became an
activities therapist. He also served 10 years as assistant pastor in the Presbyterian Church.
In 1996, Bruce and Irene retired so that they could travel to places such as California, Taiwan, Canada,
and the East Coast. Bruce had a wonderful singing voice and was willing to use it as a ministry in
community events and as a member of the Osawatomie Wesleyan Church. Bruce was also an avid
sports fan. He believed in supporting his children, grandchildren, and the local youth programs, “ GO
TROJANS.” He won an award from the KSAA for being a super fan who rarely missed a game. The Ozone
was a top priority on his daily list of activities where he enjoyed coffee and exercise classes. For 15 years
he was the Osawatomie Representative for the Salvation Army where he was in charge of bell ringing.
He helped to raise several thousand dollars to help with needs in the community. He felt his most
important ministry was praying daily for his grandchildren by name. Spending time with his family,
whether playing games, singing or just talking brought him great joy, and his laugh was the loudest in
the room- if it wasn’t he would make sure it was. Bruce was most known for spreading the good
news…. “Jesus Loves You!”
He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, Stan Ozias, Norman Ozias and John Ozias and
half brother, Rayworth Ozias.
Survivors include his wife of 55 years, Irene of the home, sons Peter (Lynn) Ozias of Taiwan and Phillip
(Heather) Ozias of Olathe, KS, daughters Charissa (Larry) Gibbons of Osawatomie, KS and Faith (Hans)
Bletterman of Lakewood, CA. Nine grandchildren Luke, Bethany & Joy Bletterman, Hadley & Madoline
Gibbons, Trinity, Noel & Isaac Ozias and Jonathan Ozias. Along with other family and friends.