| Home Surname List Name Index Sources Email Us | Sixth Generation261. Bruce Charles VANDERVORT (`) (~) was born on 28 April 1940 in Sparta, Sparta Township, Monroe County, WI.76,82 He graduated in 1958 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.284 from Tomah High School. In 1972 he was a Journalist in Switzerland. Bruce lived in Lexington, Albemarle County, VA before 2020.308 He died on 4 March 2020 at the age of 79 in Lexington, Albemarle County, VA.308 Obituary Notes: "Bruce Charles Vandervort was born April 28, 1940, in Sparta, to Lawrence Carl and Leone (Purdy) Vandervort. He grew up on Shady Lane Farm near Warrens, and attended Kirby State Graded School through eighth grade. He then attended Tomah High School, graduating in 1958. He was president of his senior class and participated in football and forensics, in particular extemporaneous speaking and debate. He attended La Crosse State College and graduated in 1965, with a major in History. He completed a Master’s Degree in History at the University of Cincinnati in 1966, moving to pursue his PhD at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In 1968, he was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship, allowing him to study and research in France for a year. In 1972, he took a hiatus from his doctoral studies and moved to Geneva, Switzerland, to first work for the International Building Trades Union and then to pursue a career in freelance journalism. The hiatus lasted a bit longer than planned, but he ended by finishing his PhD at the University of Virginia. He taught first at Wake Forest University and then for 27 years at Virginia Military Institute, specializing in Modern European History, retiring in 2016. He was the author of three books, wrote numerous articles and participated in several collaborations. During his career at VMI, he also served as editor of the Journal of Military History, a position he held until illness robbed him of the ability to continue. Bruce succumbed to cancer at his home in Lexington, Va., March 4, 2020. Bruce is survived by his children, Mark Cottingham, Emily Cottingham (Raphael Pieroni), Lucy Vandervort and Nicholas Vandervort (Amelie Coco); grandchildren, Chris and Raissa Cottingham, Stella and Kim Cottingham and Catherine Kirby; his sisters, Valjean Classey and Janelle (Ken) Dvorak; his sister-in-law, Catherine Gowreesunker; his nieces and nephews. Bruce was preceded in death by wife, Wendy (Russell) Vandervort; his parents, Lawrence and Leone Vandervort; his grandparents, Mary Clay Vandervort and Floyd and Nita (Dickinson) Purdy; sisters, Faye Leone Vandervort and Maxine Musselman; brothers-in-law, Dennis Classey, Dennis Musselman and Gary Gowreesunker. Bruce was an excellent teacher, historian and editor. Bruce was loved by family and friends. Bruce will be mourned. “Life must go on. I forget just why.” . Bruce Charles VANDERVORT (`) (~) and Mary Elizabeth EGELBERG were married on 17 August 1963. Mary Elizabeth EGELBERG was born on 22 September 1943 in La Crosse, La Crosse County, WI.259 Bruce Charles VANDERVORT (`) (~) and Wendy Vivien RUSSELL were married on 6 July 1984 in Washington, District of Columbia.54,179,259,309 Wendy Vivien RUSSELL was born on 12 July 1949 in Manchester, Greater Manchester County, England.259,309 She died on 14 February 2011 at the age of 61 in Lexington, Albemarle County, VA.309 Obituary Notes: "Wendy Vivien Russell Vandervort, 62, wife of Bruce Vandervort, originally of Warrens, died of renal cancer at her home in Lexington, Va., on Feb. 14, 2011. She was born to parents Derek Barry Russell and Millis Christina Russell (nee Price) in Leicester, England, on July 12, 1949. She attended elementary and secondary schools and teachers training college in Rugby, England. From 1972-84, Wendy was employed by the United Nations (UN) in New York and Geneva, Switzerland. She served as administrative assistant to the secretary-general of the UN and to the executive director of the UN Environmental Programme. Wendy and Bruce Vandervort were married June 6, 1984, in Washington, D.C., where Wendy was employed as an administrative assistant in the Trade Section at the U.S. office of the European Union. Two children were born to them in Washington — Lucy Catherine on April 24, 1985, and Nicholas John on Jan. 23, 1988. The family subsequently resided in Charlottesville, Va., and Winston-Salem, N.C., before taking up permanent residence in Lexington, Va., where Bruce is employed as a history professor at the Virginia Military Institute. Wendy became a U.S. citizen in 2004. From 1990 until just before her death, Wendy served as the business manager of “The Journal of Military History” in Lexington. In 2008, she was awarded the Victor Gondos Memorial Service Award for long and distinguished service by the Society for Military History, publishers of “The Journal of Military History.” Wendy was widely known for her skill as a gourmet cook. She was an indefatigable traveler and an avid gardener, and took a keen interest in environmental issues and international politics. She leaves behind her husband, Bruce Vandervort; daughter, Lucy Catherine Vandervort; and son, Nicholas John Vandervort, all of Lexington; her father, Russell, or Rugby, England; sister, Catherine Russell Gowreesunker of Birmingham, England, and a wide circle of friends at home and abroad." Bruce Charles VANDERVORT (`) (~) and Wendy Vivien RUSSELL had the following children:
Bruce Charles VANDERVORT (`) (~) and Ann Louise JABLONSKI were married on 6 February 1972 in Madison, Dane County, WI.54,259 Ann Louise JABLONSKI was born on 22 November 1947 in Buffalo, Erie County, NY.259 Bruce Charles VANDERVORT (`) (~) and Jane COTTINGHAM were married in 1977 in Geneva, Switzerland.54,259 Jane COTTINGHAM was born in England, United Kingdom.259 Bruce Charles VANDERVORT (`) (~) and Jane COTTINGHAM had the following children:
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