Bruce Coit Hartline

Bruce Coit Hartline, 97, a Navy veteran of Silver City, passed away Saturday, January 10, 2026 at Genesis Silver City Care Center. Cremation has been entrusted to the care of Baca’s Funeral Chapels. Service arrangements are pending.

Born February 14, 1928 in Albuquerque, Bruce was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Ruth Killingsworth Hartline and son Bruce Marlo Hartline.

He is survived by his daughter Connie Sue Thwaits of Casa Grande, AZ and her husband Thomas Thwaits, 4 grandchildren: John Bruce Barnard, James Thwaits, Thomas Thwaits and Steven Hartline, 7 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren.

Bruce enlisted in the Navy in 1943, at the age of 15, using falsified documents. He served 3 years as an Electrician Apprentice/Radioman receiving an Honorable Discharge in 1946. Bruce joined the Albuquerque Police Department in 1950 as a patrol officer. During his 25-year tenure with the Albuquerque Police he rose through the ranks, serving as Patrol sergeant and Detective, reaching the rank of Lieutenant prior to his retirement in 1975.

During the first 30 years of retirement, Bruce and Ruth would travel to Mexico in their RV for 6 months each Winter.  Bruce, always active and physically strong, would start off each day in Mexico with a swim in the ocean for an hour before loading up the boat and heading out to fish. The rest of the year was spent back in New Mexico fishing, hunting and golfing. Bruce and Ruth moved from Albuquerque to Elephant Butte in 1983 and then Silver City in 1996, where Bruce continued his regular swims each morning for an hour in the pool at WNMU. Bruce, always proud of his health, strength and physique, remained physically strong and active into his 90’s.

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