Born April 18, 1954, Bruce Wayne Marklin’s name is synonymous with servant and advocate for others.
A respected member of the U.S. Marine Corps who served during the Vietnam War, Mr. Bruce was a 1972 graduate of Todd County Central High School. While at TCCHS he was a member of the first TCCHS football team and also participated in track, chorus, and basketball. Following his Marine Corps years, Mr. Bruce returned to his beloved Todd County and became a deputy sheriff under the late Sheriff Robert Miller. He also worked for several years with the Kentucky Park Service at both Jefferson Davis State Historic Site and at Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park. In later years he devoted his talents in the area of law enforcement, retiring in 2013 from the Elkton Police Department after serving for many years as Elkton’s Police Chief. An advocate for safety, one parent shared her son recalled always being given glow sticks at Halloween by Mr. Bruce, his yearly effort to provide safety for the youth of Todd County.
During his 70 years of life, Mr. Bruce wore several hats as he led the D.A.R.E. Program (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) for years in our elementary schools, again placing emphasis on public safety and drug awareness. The D.A.R.E. Program, which was founded in 1983, provides students the skills they need to bypass involvement in violence, drugs, and gangs. A Facebook post by Todd County Middle School describes Mr. Bruce perfectly as it stated, “He was one of the original members of the Dads and Grandads on Patrol Program. He spent well over 12 hours per month regularly at our school volunteering. He could often be seen with the red volunteer vest helping in classrooms, the front office, and the gym.” His high school love of sports continued throughout his life as he coached the youth of our county, providing for them strong male leadership and loving support and care for others.
Jana Ledbetter, a former employee in the TCMS cafeteria, shared, “He would come and sit with us, the cafeteria staff, during our break. He was always so nice and encouraging to all the staff. He was never too good to talk to everyone.” A former staff member at South Todd Elementary, Mrs. Dawn Sharp, added, “Bruce made a difference to so many – a very special man who will be greatly missed.” Bruce Voth, recently retired principal at North Todd, shared, “He was a great guy and was always supportive of our school safety efforts. I took great comfort he and Bobby Miller were the first two grandparents in the car rider line at NTES.” Missy Watson Cherry, another who knew the servant heart Mr. Bruce possessed, shared, “One day I had the biggest mess and caught him passing by in the hall and asked if he could tell the office I needed a mop. He went and got a mop and came back and cleaned it all up for me himself! That’s the kind of guy he was.”
Those who know more about Mr. Bruce will also share he was a kidney transplant recipient, after battling kidney disease for many years. However, once he recovered from the initial transplant, Mr. Bruce continued his roles as servant and advocate, often volunteering at the schools in Todd County. His love of God also stood out as he served as a deacon at Calvary Baptist Church and tackled song leading, serving on committees, and assisting with whatever tasks needed to be completed. His devotion to his family and the youth of our community also serve as a reminder to us of our need to invest in the next generation of youth that will soon take their roles as leaders. Another who knew him added she never met Mr. Bruce without his sharing something about his children and grandchildren.
David Carmichael, former principal at TCMS, posted on Facebook, “He was a great man, and a giant in the community.” Another former Todd Countian, Jerry West, now a preacher in the Washington, D.C. area, added, “His obituary is a beautiful tribute to a life well lived in service to others. May we all make an impact like he has!” Kelvin DeBerry, well-known realtor, added, the Marklins “just didn’t live here; they planted seeds long ago and nurtured it into growth of our youth.” In recent years, again reflecting his love for his alma mater, the youth of Todd County, and his community, the Marklins have sponsored a scholarship for the graduates of TCCHS. Now at his death, his family chose to honor his alma mater with donations being given to the TCCHS Alumni Foundation. Again, Mr. Bruce’s love of others stands as a testament to the roles of servant and advocate Mr. Bruce wore so often and so well!
~ Article by Carolyn L. Wells
July 9, 2024
