Dr. Bruce Newell, 84, of Lake Wales, died on Sunday, Feb. 19, 2012, at his home, of natural causes due to dementia, under the compassionate care of Hope Hospice.

He was born March 19, 1927, in Roxboro, N.C., the third son of Bruce and Cornelia Sample Newell. He attended local schools and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He graduated from Duke University in 1949 with a degree in chemistry. There he was a Dean’s List student, a freshman advisor, and a member of the Kappa Alpha Order.

Following a brief stint as a quality-control chemist with the Coca-Cola Company, he entered Duke University Medical School, graduating as a medical doctor in 1956. He interned in Danville, Va., and served as chief resident at Mound Park Hospital in St. Petersburg, now Bayfront Medical Center.

He and his wife, Marilyn, moved to Indian Lake Estates in 1959 and he entered general practice in Lake Wales, sharing an office with Dr. Richard Mott. He later opened his office on Carlton Avenue. He served as medical director and was responsible for the placement of art at the former Lake Wales Extended Care Facility and was the medical director of the former Dove Healthcare, now Grace Healthcare in Lake Wales until his retirement in 1999. He had been a member of the AMA, Southern Medical Association, and the Polk County Medical Society.

He was a member of First Presbyterian Church and the Lake Wales Country Club, where he enjoyed tennis for many years. He was a long-time supporter of the Lake Wales Arts Council and Lake Wales Art Show.

Bruce was a classical music lover and especially fond of opera. He loved to travel via rail and was a “Rail Enthusiast,” was a pilot and cherished his private license.

Bruce was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Henry and William, a sister Elizabeth, and a nephew Douglas. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Marilyn Skinner Newell (whom he met in a class at Duke); sister-in-law, Jean Davis Newell; nieces, Mims (Ivy) Coleman, Connie Newell, Betty (Tim) Bowes, and Linda Newell Garza; nephews, Henry Jr. (Judith) Newell, Robert (Ginger) Newell, David (Donna) Newell, William Newell Jr., Thomas (Sally) Humphries, Bruce (Ellen) Humphries, and Bill (Evie) Humphries; grandnieces and nephews and great-grand nieces and -nephews; also his caregivers, Nancy Wager and Dwight Erickson.

Memorials of remembrance may be made to the Lake Wales Care Center Free Medical Clinic, First Presbyterian Church, or the Lake Wales Arts Council.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, Feb. 23, from 4-6 p.m. at the Johnson Funeral Home. Funeral services will be Thursday at 2 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church with Rev. Matthew Joldersma officiating. Interment with military honors will be held Friday at Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell.