Charles "Bruce" Canter

Charles "Bruce" Canter March 18, 1935 - March 9, 2021 Bruce Canter, age 85, passed away surrounded by his family on Tuesday, March 9, 2021 at the SOMC Hospice Center in Portsmouth, Ohio. Bruce was born March 18, 1935 in Huntington, West Virginia to the late Hymie Raymond and Virginia Ellen (Tomlinson) Canter. He graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1953. He attended Miami University and The Ohio State University. Bruce Served in the U.S. Army from 1957-1959. He was the owner of Bruce Canter's Kopy Kat, formerly known as Donna Casuals, which were ladies retail clothing stores. Bruce, his father Hymie Canter, his uncle Marc Canter and Bill Purdy were the major stockholders and developers of the former Ramada Inn in Portsmouth, Ohio. Bruce was a lifelong resident of Portsmouth and an active member of his community. He was a member of the Elks (B.P.O.E 154) and previously served on the Board of Retail Merchants Association, the Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce and the Portsmouth City Schools Foundation. He was also a member of the Portsmouth Rotary Club until he retired from his retail business in the mid 1980's. Bruce was a member of the former Trinity United Methodist Church and Cornerstone United Methodist Church. Bruce enjoyed playing golf at the Elks Country Club with his many friends as well as playing in the Wednesday Elks league. He also enjoyed playing cards every Wednesday evening since the 1960's with his friends. Bruce's family and friends will always remember him for his outgoing personality, his quick wit and his wonderful sense of humor. He never met a stranger and always took the time to engage in conversation. Bruce was preceded in death by his parents and his first wife, Judith "Judy" Ann (Benner) Canter, whom he married in June 1961 and was the mother of his three children. Judy passed away on April 30, 1991. He is survived by his wife, Darlene (Robinson) Canter, whom he married July 1, 1995, daughters Laura Ellen Boden (Tom) of Knoxville, Tennessee, Beth Ann Hanna (Jeff) of Fishers, Indiana, and a son, Bruce David Canter, of Fishers, Indiana and a stepson, Danny Ray Conn of Dayton, Ohio. He is also survived by four grandsons, Kyle Thomas Boden of Lexington, Kentucky, Eric David Boden of Knoxville, Tennessee, Jeffrey "Grant" Hanna of Chicago, Illinois and Cole Bruce Hanna of Fishers, Indiana. Bruce was very proud of his children and grandsons. He will be deeply missed by all of his family. Visitation will be held on Friday, March 12th, from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM, with funeral service immediately following at 2:00 PM all at F.C. Daehler Mortuary, 915 Ninth Street, Portsmouth, OH. Graveside service with Military Honors immediately following in Memorial Burial Park, Wheelersburg, OH. Rev. Tom Charles officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the SOMC Hospice Center, 2201 25th Street, Portsmouth, OH, 45662. Whom provided compassionate, loving, quality care during the final years of Bruce's fight against Alzheimer's disease. F.C.Daehler Mortuary is caring for the family. Please visit FCDaehlerMortuary.com to leave your memories or condolences for the family.