Bruce Colonna Guard

Colonel Bruce C. Guard died March 25, 2016 at the Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home. He had been fighting Parkinson's disease for the past 16 years. He was born in Princess Anne County, VA on July 18, 1930. He graduated from Greensboro Senior High School in 1949 and joined the NC National Guard in 1948. He attended the U.S. Army Flight School in Texas and graduated in 1953. He was also a graduate of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, the Command and General Staff College, and other military related schooling. After a number of positions in aviation, he was appointed to Chief of Staff to the Adjutant General of NCNG, MG Hubert M. Leonard. After retiring in 1986, Col. Guard turned to land development at Kerr Lake, both in NC and VA. He opened the community of Deer Run Acres in NC and three other developments in VA, Waters Edge, Buffalo Pointe, and Westview on the Lake, all of which are still in operation. Other activities were basketball coach at Our Lady of Grace School in Greensboro, a member of the Benevolent Order of Elks, chairman of the Lake Committee at Kerr Lake, a board member of The Preddy Foundation, and Chief of Staff for the Thomasville Memorial Day Parade and Ceremonies. He received the Army Commendation Medal for Heroism after pulling two young men from turbulent waters in the Cape Fear River, using only a makeshift seat belt to retrieve them. Under the guidance of the Adjutant General, he coordinated Hickory Response which was a program to mobilize all units of the NCNG to determine the readiness of the group. It was a highly successful venture. Col. Guard assisted in many storm situations, and was the pilot of many governors, senators, generals, and other high ranking personnel. He was designated a Master pilot. He was married to the former Jackie Swicegood for 65 years. His family includes five children, Bruce Scott Guard and wife Amy, Boyd Guard, Jean Guard, Mark Guard, and Eric Guard; ten grandchildren include, Andrew and Jordan Guard, Jacob Guard, Hilary and Stephanie Petter, Jessica Marchand and husband Arturo, Mark and Matthew Guard, Vincent and Rachael Martin; a great-grandson, Marco; three sisters, Rosemary Winkler and husband Skip, Loucetta Yelverton and Ruth Daniels and husband Royden and a brother, Joe Guard and wife Nancy. A memorial service will be held 2:00 P.M. Sunday, April 24, 2016 at Hayworth-Miller Kinderton Chapel in Advance. In lieu of flowers, it is requested that honorariums go to your local Hospice Center or to the Michael J. Fox Parkinson's Foundation. Online condolences may be made to www.hayworth-miller.com

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