Bruce H. Mammeli Dr.

JOSHUA -- Dr. Bruce H. Mammeli, 69, of Joshua, passed away Friday, September 30, 2011, in Fort Worth. Memorial Service: 12pm Tuesday, October 4, 2011, at the Mountain Valley Funeral Home Chapel. Dr. Bruce H. Mammeli was born on August 29, 1942 in Southern California, and moved to Clayton, Oklahoma in 1950. Raised on a ranch, he participated in the local Future Farmer's of America in his local high school. He showed various animals at county fairs, and won numerous awards. He was elected vice president of the FFA chapter and earned a Degree of Junior Master Farmers Award. While a junior in high school, he was elected by the local Clayton American Legion Post to represent their region in the Oklahoma Boys State program of government studies. Bruce went to Eastern Oklahoma State College Where he received an Associate degree in Agriculture. While there he was promoted to Cadet Captain of the local Air Force ROTC unit. On graduation, he was selected Honor Student in Professional Agriculture and was accepted into the College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University at Stillwater, Oklahoma. While at Oklahoma State University, he was a member or Omega Chi Fraternity. After graduation with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, and completing his exams for licensing to practice in the state of Oklahoma, he remained at the veterinary College as a large animal instructor until entering the U.S. Air Force Veterinary Corps, one step ahead of the draft. Bruce served 22 years in the Air Force, retiring as Lt. Colonel. He started his career at the top of the world at Thule, Greenland. From there he went to Adair AF Station in Oregon. He was then sent to Subic Bay, Philippine, where he served as a liaison officer with the Navy. He was then selected to attend the University of Michigan, where he received Master's Degree in Public Health and was later certified as Diplomat in Veterinary Public Health. From there he was assigned to the Tactical Air Command IG Team, Langley AFB, Virginia. He was then sent to the Special Operation Wing in Hulbert Field where he met his beautiful wife, Marcia, who was by his side from then on. They were sent to Taipei, Taiwan, assigned to the Navy again. After that he was sent to Hill AFB, in Utah, where he graduated from Air Command and Staff College. From there he was picked to join the Air Force IG Team Norton, AFB, California, where he traveled inspecting medical units worldwide. He served at Davis-Monthan, AFB, Tucson, AZ, and Sheppard AFB, Wichita Falls, where he retired. He received numerous ribbons and was awarded five Meritorious Service Metals while serving. After retiring from the Air Force, he was hired by the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Animal Care, as Assistant Regional Director, Supervisor, Animal Care Specialist, in Fort Worth, where he supervised a field team of inspectors in the enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act, and the Horse Protection Act. Responsibilities covered from Universities, private research facilities, zoos, animal exhibits, and private animal owners. He received several Certificates of Merit from the USDA and retired again in 2002. He lived in Joshua, and was a member of the Mountain Valley Country Club. Bruce was preceded in death by his parents, Richard Earl, and Dolores Tolleson Mammeli; and a brother Richard Mammeli. Survivors include wife, Marcie Mammeli, of Joshua; sister, Pauline Ray, and husband Jim, of Kiowa, Oklahoma; nephews, David Mammeli, Doug Mammeli, John Reading, James Reading, Lance Reading, and A.J. Ray; niece, Jodie Morton and a host of friends. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations made in memory of Dr. Bruce H. Mammeli, to Community Hospice of Texas, 301 Medpark Circle, Burleson, Texas 76028