Tragedy struck on ACD Festival’s annual Hoosier Tour
William Bruce Scranage succumbed to severe injuries from an automobile accident while driving his beloved supercharged 1937 Cord 812 Beverly in the ACD Festival’s annual Hoosier Tour on Aug. 30, 2023, near Noblesville, Ind.
William Bruce Scranage, 79, of Auburn, Ind., died Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, at St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis. He succumbed to severe injuries from an automobile accident while driving his beloved supercharged 1937 Cord 812 Beverly in the ACD Festival’s annual Hoosier Tour on Aug. 30, 2023, near Noblesville, Ind. (The ACD Festival coincides with the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Club’s Reunion in Auburn.) Scranage’s companion of nine years, Carolyn “Punki” Shelton, was by his side that day and is presently recovering from an orthopedic injury.
Scranage loved and collected cars, race cars, boats, antique tractors, and “really anything with an engine,” stated his obituary. He also enjoyed attending races and supporting NHRA funny car driver Del Worsham.
Scranage was born on Feb. 25, 1944, in Auburn to John Milton and Agnes (Smoker) Scranage. He grew up with his three brothers on the family farm on the Old Auburn Road in Ashley. Bruce was a 1962 graduate of Ashley High School. While in high school he was the FFA King of DeKalb County and throughout his life he supported the youth who competed in cattle shows at the DeKalb County Fair in Auburn. He also helped make the construction of the new show barn at the fairgrounds possible. He went on to attend Purdue University with his best friend, Jim Ankney and graduated in 1966 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Agricultural Business.
Bruce honorably served his state and his country in the Indiana Army National Guard out of Fort Wayne.
In his younger years Bruce worked at the A&W in Angola and he worked at Zollner Piston in the summers to be able to pay his own way through college. Later he ran a fertilizer company in Walnut Grove, Illinois before coming back to Auburn to teach sixth grade at McKenney-Harrison Elementary School. After teaching, Bruce spent over 50 years in the real estate business. First, he was with Allen Graber Realty before purchasing Wible Real Estate in Auburn with Alice McDonald. He and his business partner, Norm Rohm also owned and operated NB Properties.
Bruce was very active in the community and always willing to give back in many ways. He served on the board of the DeKalb Humane Society as well as being a member of the Rod and Gun Club and the Auburn Elks. Over the years he supported his alma mater, Purdue University, as well as Trine University, the DeKalb Humane Society and many other beneficial organizations. He especially enjoyed supporting Living With Hope Ministry and his daughter’s and granddaughter’s mission work in Kenya with this organization.
