Bruce Alan Lepley went to be with the Lord suddenly on July 5, 2024 at the age of 65. He was born on June 9, 1959 to Richard Eugene Lepley and Kathryn Violet (Sparlin) Lepley in Lima, Ohio. He was their second child, with an older brother Steve and a younger sister Sandy. Bruce was a proud graduate of Shawnee High School in Lima, Ohio. He worked in high school as a janitor for both a church and for a bakery, from which he sometimes took home surplus baked goods. He came to know Jesus as his personal Savior while attending church in high school. After high school, at age 17 he enlisted in the Air Force with plans to take advantage of the GI bill to go to college as his father had done after serving in the US Army for four years. Bruce spent a year enlisted in the Air Force, then he got the opportunity to go to the Air Force Academy Preparatory School, and then the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. During his senior year in the Academy, he met Lorraine Jeannette Wolfram while tagging along with a fellow cadet who eventually married one of Lorraine's sisters. After his graduation from the Air Force Academy in 1983, Lorraine and Bruce were married on December 29, 1984. Their life together was an adventure, as they moved from place to place for his career as an officer in the Air Force.

They lived in South Korea, South Carolina, Colorado, Ohio, Florida, and Maryland at different stages in his career. Bruce and Lorraine had three children. The oldest two, Amanda and Thomas, were born in Colorado Springs at the Air Force Academy, where Thomas would later return to graduate 31 years after his father. The youngest, James, was born at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio. They have many fond memories of the vacations they took together as a family. Notably, while in Florida, they went snorkeling in Key West every spring. Other memorable travels include going to Yellowstone National Park, and also viewing satellite launches from Cape Canaveral, Florida for satellites Bruce had supported. In addition to his Air Force Academy degree, Bruce also earned a Master's in Space Systems Management in 1991, and a Bachelor's of Science in Information Systems in 2002.

Following his retirement from the Air Force in 2003, Bruce remained in Maryland to work for a government contractor, providing technical security for government satellites. Bruce's hobbies include amateur ("ham") radio and playing classical guitar. He achieved an Extra level license for amateur radio (the highest possible license), and even got a vanity call sign with his initials in it (N3BAL). Along the way, he influenced his wife and three children to get their amateur radio licenses. Bruce also enjoyed learning and playing classical guitar duets with his daughter Amanda. Bruce was an experienced handyman, and could fix almost anything, frequently doing home improvement and auto repair. Bruce took good care of his family. He made sure they were well provided for, made sure the children had a good education, and most of all made sure they were raised in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Bruce was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. Bruce is survived by his wife, Lorraine Lepley, his three children, Amanda Lepley, Thomas Lepley (wife Stephanie), and James Lepley, his granddaughter Sage Lepley, his siblings Steve Lepley (wife Karen) and Sandy Honigford, his siblings-in-laws Suzanne Wolfram and David Larue, Phillip and Neta Wolfram, Keith and Charlene Maines, and Ron and Donna Reiner, as well as 23 nieces and nephews with their spouses and 16 great-nieces and great-nephews.

Family and friends may visit on Wednesday July 10, 2024 from 12:00pm-1:00pm with a service to follow at 1:00pm at Anchor Baptist Church 320 W Pasadena Rd, Millersville, MD 21108. Interment will be at the Air Force Academy Cemetery in Colorado at a later date.

In lieu of flowers donations in his name may be made to: Deacons Fund at Anchor Baptist Church. https://anchorbaptistonline.org/give