Harold Brunton

West Columbia - Hal Brunton , 95, died July 7, 2016. Born in Jersey City, N.J., son of the late Harold and Frances Stockhof Brunton, he attended Stevens Institute of Technology, graduating with honors in 1943. From 1943 to 1963 he worked for General Electric, primarily at Pittsfield, Massachusetts then in Irmo, SC. While in Pittsfield, he was chairman of the Friends of the Berkshire Athenaeum, President of the Berkshire Mental Health Association and was named Young Man of the Year by the JCC in 1957.

From 1963 to 1983 he worked at University of South Carolina where he was Vice-President for Business Affairs (initially called Dean of Administration). During his tenure, enrollment on the Columbia campus increased from 6,800 to 26,000. He supervised the addition of more than five million square feet of structures and more than doubled the campus, 6 blocks to the east, 7 blocks to the south and 6 blocks to the west.

Of all his projects, he was proudest of the Horseshoe Restoration, the Williams-Brice Stadium, the Thomas Cooper Library and the bridge over Pickens Street which a faculty committee recommended be named “The Brunton Memorial Bridge.”

He was a member of three honor fraternities: Tau Beta Pi (honorary engineering), ODK (honorary leadership) and Beta Gamma Sigma (honorary business). He served as a Director on the Boards of the Columbia Art Museum, SC Philharmonic Orchestra, Columbia Rehabilitation Center, Friends of Richland County Library and Executive Council of Boy Scouts. He was listed in “Who’s Who in Southeastern Business” and in 1968 was named “Faculty Man of the Year” by I.F.C.

Surviving are his wife of 61 years, Lois (Podie) Brunton; daughter, Patty Scharko (Tommy) of Columbia, SC; son Dean Brunton (Wendy) of Pewee Valley, Kentucky; and five beloved grandchildren, Melissa Scharko and Adelaide, Jack, Julia and Ivy Brunton.

The family will have a memorial service at 5:00 p.m. in the Still Hopes Chapel and receive friends at the Mansion at Still Hopes Retirement Community in West Columbia from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 9, 2016. Memorials may be made to the USC School of Music or the Still Hopes Resident Assistance Fund (1 Still Hopes Drive, West Columbia 29169).

Please sign the online guestbook at www.dunbarfunerals.com.