Following a long illness, Bruce Wayne Venables passed away peacefully at Delaware Hospice Center in Milford, on Jan. 30, 2026, surrounded by his loving family. Bruce was born on March 10, 1945, in Salisbury, the youngest of five children of William Ben and Grace Venables. His siblings included sisters, Betty and Barbara, and brothers, Bill and Bob.
Bruce was a graduate of Laurel High School, where he was known for his athletic abilities in football. He attended the University of Delaware, before serving in the U.S. Army and National Guard. He would later complete a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Technology and earned multiple IT certifications.
Following 1954’s Hurricane Hazel, Bruce’s older brothers, Bill and Bob, assisted their community by rebuilding damaged homes. Ultimately, this event led to the founding of W.B. Venables & Sons, Inc., a construction company started by Bob and Bill, and Bruce later joined the family business along with their father. While their original business focused on residential projects, Bruce was instrumental in growing the company to constructing numerous commercial and governmental projects throughout the Delmarva Peninsula. In the 1990s, they expanded into Real Estate Development and owned Broadcreek Realty until 2007. During this time, Bruce also founded Delmarva Consultants, a computer cabling and low voltage wiring company, and he was joined by sons, Matt and Nick, and son-in-law, Kenny.
Bruce was active in numerous community service and civic organizations, including being a founding member of the Laurel Redevelopment Corporation and an active member of the Associated Builders and Contractors, He served on the Laurel Board of Education and the Board of Directors of the Bank of Delmarva.
In his spare time, Bruce mostly valued spending time at home with his family, his greatest joy in life. Additional interests were a passion for carpentry and home improvement projects, landscaping, working out, traveling, and music and dancing with Lisa. He shared a passion for golf, with his brother, Bill, and they were part of what Lisa called the “Laurel Posse,” who golfed every Sunday and Wednesday.
Bruce earned his third-degree black belt, in Isshinryu Karate, and he and Lisa, taught at Del Tech’s Georgetown campus, from 1976 through 1982. After seeing the original Top Gun movie, in 1986, Bruce decided to pursue his interest in aviation, and he earned VFR and IFR (Instrument) ratings. After Lisa also earned her private pilot’s license, they enjoyed being able to fly family and friends for day trips and vacations.
Most knew Bruce as a successful, driven, and decisive entrepreneur, but to family, he was a kind animal lover, who patiently coaxed squirrels and raccoons into the family room with food offerings, and he was the “bird whisperer” who rescued baby birds, ducks, and geese, while living on Records Pond. For years, he was the first, and only downstate transporter for Tri-State Bird Rescue.
Bruce is survived by the love of his life, his wife and co-pilot of 49 years, Lisa. Additionally, he is survived by his five children, David Venables (Jennifer), Matia Spicer (Kenneth), Matt Venables (Teresa), Nick Venables (Jen), and Stacie Johnson (Bryan); additionally, he is survived by 12 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren. He is now, as he has always been, surrounded by love.
In addition to his parents and siblings, Bruce is preceded in death by his first wife, Carol Anderson Lowe, mother of David, Matt, and Matia.
A visitation will be held on Saturday, Feb. 14 from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at St. Phillips Episcopal Church, 600 South Central Ave, Laurel, Delaware 19956. A funeral service will follow, officiated by the Reverend Jack Anderson, followed by an informal Celebration of Life luncheon, in the Parish Hall.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Bruce’s memory to St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, 600 S. Central Ave, Laurel, DE 19956, and also to Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research, 170 Possum Hollow Road, Newark, DE 19711, 302-737-9543.
Arrangements are in the care of Hannigan, Short, Disharoon Funeral Home in Laurel. Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.hsdfuneralhome.com.