Kenneth Bruce Prine

Bruce Prine was born on August 3, 1933 in Merced, California to Dorothy and Everett Prine. He passed away at home on May 5, 2024.  He attended Livingston Elementary School and graduated from Livingston High School in 1952.  Bruce served his country in the US Navy on the USS Wandank and USS Helena.  After his tour of duty, he worked as a fireman, truck driver and mechanic. 

Bruce graduated from the California Highway Patrol Academy in 1964.  His first assignment was Barstow, California.  His next assignment was Merced, California, back to the Central Valley

where he grew up.  After 28 years of service on the California Highway Patrol, Bruce retired in 1990 and continued with full time farming.  He was a lifelong almond farmer.  Bruce was a ten year member of the Ballico-Cressey School Board and a member of the American Legion.

In 1964, Bruce married Ann Kelley.  Together they raised two children, Debbie and Kenny.

In 2002, Bruce married Gerri Jones, a former Livingston High School classmate.  They were happily married for twenty-one years, until her passing on April 5, 2024. 

Together they enjoyed going to the San Francisco 49ers and San Francisco Giants games.  Bruce enjoyed attending his grandchildren and great grandchildren’s sporting events, dance recitals and performances.  Holiday gatherings and birthday celebrations were something he always looked forward to.  Bruce continued a tradition passed on by his parents of having deep fried shrimp on Christmas Eve.  This was a celebration everyone looked forward to every Christmas Eve!

Bruce was preceded in death by his mother and father, Dorothy & Everett Prine, his sisters, Karen Vance and Melba Quinn, his brother Vernon Prine and his beloved wife, Gerri Prine.

Bruce is survived by his daughter, Debbie (Richard) Prine Perez, Kenny (Mary) Prine, his grandchildren Lacie (Roman) Charo, Garrett Perez, Kaden Prine and Kenzie Prine.  His great grandchildren Camden Perez, Sophie Charo and Lilah Charo, his step children Susan (Allan) Mord, Sherrill (Rob) Hillberg, Vicky (Tom) Wagner, Rick (Julie) Jones, and Melinda (Jay) DeGraff, 12 step grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren with one on the way.

A visitation will be held at Wilson Family Funeral Chapel, 1290 Winton Way, Atwater, on May 17, 2024 from 9:30 am to 10:30 am.  The funeral service will follow at 10:30 am.  A graveside service will immediately follow at Winton District Cemetery in Winton.  A Celebration of Life will be held at the Livingston United Methodist Church, 11695 Olive Avenue, Livingston at 1:00 pm.

Thank you Papa for 90 years of wonderful memories. You will be forever loved and missed.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Kenneth Bruce Prine, please visit our floral store.