Bruce Quentin Plank was born on September 18, 1933, in Hagerstown, Maryland, to Kenneth Pierce Plank and Ruth Charlotte (Routzahn) Plank. Bruce married Carole Holt on November 19, 1960, and the pair had one child, Kenneth Edward.

Bruce began playing baseball in grade school and soon found a natural talent for pitching. He was recruited and paid by the neighboring youth teams as early as 13 years old. He played baseball through high school, after which in 1951, he joined the United States Air Force at 18 years old. He continued to play baseball throughout countless countries and at his stations in Laon, France, and Long Island, New York, while serving our country as a Military Policeman.

After being discharged in 1956 and moving back to Hagerstown in 1957, Bruce worked for Fairchild Aircraft and was sent to Oklahoma City. He worked for ONG and continued to play baseball; this time for the ONG " “Gassers”. Gassers". He also played baseball, tennis, and golf during his lifetime, winning the local Four Ball tournament with Paul Novey in 1965. He also refereed and umpired basketball, football, and, of course, baseball, all around town. He also enjoyed fishing, fishing, going out to Lake Texoma to catch Stripers every chance he got.

Bruce went to work for the Oklahoma City Police Department, riding Scout Car and becoming a Fingerprint Technician. He worked as a Records Of Officer ficer for the Oklahoma County Sheriff's office Sheriff’s office and then joined the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation as a Fingerprint Technician. He attended FBI School in Washington D.C. in 1972 to become a Certified  Handwriting Expert at the request of the OSBI, where he worked for over 20 years until retiring in 1991. His love for baseball never left him. When his son Ken began playing, Bruce coached his teams and continued for many years, and got to watch his grandson play the game as well. He also developed a love for its sister sport, softball, attending many of his granddaughters’ games throughout the years. His legacy of love for the game and instruction continues today, as his son and granddaughter have coached softball at Belle Isle Enterprise Middle School for the past three seasons.

Following Bruce's retirement from the OSBI, Bruce and Carole moved to Foley, Alabama, where Bruce could golf or fish every day. After the arrival of three grandchildren, the pair moved to Hot Springs, Arkansas, and then finally, to Oklahoma City to attend soccer, softball, and yes, baseball games once again, where Bruce could continue his love for the game and coaching from the stands.

Bruce passed away on April 26, 2026. He is preceded in death by his father, Kenneth Pierce Plank, mother, Ruth Charlotte Plank, brothers, George Plank, Donald Plank, and Stanley Plank; and his sister, Virginia (Plank) Bidle. He is survived by his wife, Carole Plank, son, Kenneth Plank, his son, Kenneth Plank, daughter-in-law, Brook Plank, grandchildren Addison (Plank) Chappell and her husband, Austin, Quincy (Plank) Rupnik and her husband, Paul, and Griffin  Plank.

He will be missed in life and on the baseball diamond. In lieu of fl flowers, owers, donations can be made to the Oklahoma City Police Athletic League in Bruce’s name at okcpal.org. okcpal.org.

Bruce's life will be honored on Wednesday, May 6, at 6 PM at Church of the Resurrection, OKC, in the Parish Hall, 13112 N. Rockwell Ave., Oklahoma City, OK 73142.