Bruce Michael Kitchens was born on Tuesday, February 6, 1951 in Dallas, Texas to Chester Olan Kitchens and Theresa Lou Evans Kitchens. He entered heaven on Tuesday, April 29, 2025 at the age of 74. Bruce was diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia in 2018 and as it progressed he then was diagnosed with dementia in 2023.

He grew up in the Pleasant Grove area of Dallas. He started high school at Samuel High School. He was a member of Pleasant Grove Church of Christ. Then in 1967 his family moved to Irving where he finished high school at Irving High School graduating in 1969. He was a member of South Delaware Church of Christ which later became South MacArthur Church of Christ. In 2012 he became a member of Riverside Church of Christ in Coppell, Texas.

He played football at Irving High and was a member of the 1968 Irving Tiger football team who reached the Quarter Finals for 5A Texas football.

Bruce decided to go to Oklahoma Christmas College in Edmond, Oklahoma and graduated in 1973. Bruce met Debra Fulbright in 1966 after her family moved to Irving from Grand Prairie, however, they were just friends. But in 1972 when he was a senior in college on a trip home from college for Thanksgiving, they began to date. This relationship blossomed and they were married May 24, 1975. Bruce and Debra would have celebrated their 50th Anniversary on May 24, 2025.

They lived in Irving and on February 20, 1978, along came Brent, their loving son. Brent was their pride and joy as a wonderful and loving son. Bruce and Debra were involved in many activities with Brent and Bruce helped coach Brent in Irving Boys Football Association. Once Brent started playing football in school, Bruce continued coaching football with IBFA. He could be seen driving his little Chevrolet pick up with the back filled with boys heading to practice. He loved being involved so much that he became President of the Irving Boys Football Association.

Bruce worked a few various jobs until 1976 when he went to work for Debra’s parents at their pawn shop in Irving. He worked there until they sold the shop in 1986. At the advice of his father, he decided to become a real estate appraiser. He blossomed in this career and continued to thrive until late 1990’s he started his own company All County Appraisal Group. In 2008 he went to work for Fannie Mae where he remained until his retirement in 2018. In 2020 he became a school crossing guard, which he loved being around the little kiddos until he left in 2023, due to his illness.

Bruce was a wonderful husband and father and friend to many. Everyone loved Bruce, he was a great man.

He loved playing games but especially card games which he learned from his Aunt Maedell Kitchens Howard. Eventually, he started played poker and enjoyed the friendship of his poker playing buddies.

Bruce is preceded in death by his grandparents and parents. He is survived by his loving wife of almost 50 years, Debra, son Brent and his wife Emery and their two grandchildren Adley and Grant of The Woodlands, Texas. His brother Lynn Kitchens and his wife JoEllen of Tyler, Texas and his nephew Blake Kitchens and his wife Desiree and their two sons, Bryce and Brayden of Breckenridge, Texas. And many cousins and friends.

The family would like to thank Avalon Memory Care in Irving and Sovereign Hospice for their wonderful care of Bruce.

Visitation will be on Friday, May 9, 2025, at Brown’s Memorial Funeral Home from 6:00-8:00 p.m. His services will be at Riverside Church of Christ in Coppell, Texas on Saturday, May 10, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. He will be buried next to his parents at Grove Hill Memorial Park Cemetery in Dallas, Texas

https://www.brownmem.com/obituaries/Bruce-Kitchens?obId=42323634