William “Bill” Otho Bruton was born 9 Feb 1920 and died 15 Jan 2013. He was the son of Caswell Wright and Nina Bruton, and was the fifth child of eight children. As a child, he was known as "Dub", because of his first two initials of W.O. which has the sound of "Dub" when said together. His grandfather, Wilson Otho Bruton, was an attorney and one of the original authors of the Oklahoma State Constitution, which reached statehood in 1907. And Wilson's father, Wainwright Bruton (married to the daughter of a prominent Northern Cherokee Chief), was a doctor and personal physician of General Stand Waite, the ranking field commander of the Oklahoma Indian Territory southern forces during the Civil War. "Dub" spent his early years occupying his time with reading books to help cope with his mother's death when he was just 7. This love of books and gift or reading propelled him into the world of education where he finished his Bachelor's Degree in English and Education at Oklahoma A & M (now known as Oklahoma State University) after serving as a soldier in World War II. Army SSgt W.O. Bruton fought in North Africa under the command of General George Patton (and later General Mark Clark) against the famous German field commander, General Erwin Rommel, also known as the Desert Fox. He continued his military career moving across the Mediterranean Sea and fighting in Sicily, onto Anzio and Rome, and up the boot of northern Italy into Salerno and into Germany near the end of the European Campaign of WW II in 1945. In all, he fought in 511 combat days, 8 major campaigns, and numerous important battles that helped defeat the Nazis and maintain our freedom to all Americans while preserving our way of life to this day here in the United States. After serving in WW II and returning to civilian life to gain his degree, he became a high school English teacher in Oklahoma. He rejoined the military with the US Air Force during the Korean War and stayed in up through the Vietnam War, while serving as an education advisor in Saigon in 1970-1971. He completed his distinguished military carrier as senior Education Instructor at the 8th Air Force Command Academy at Barksdale, AFB. My dad was a true war hero, a loving father, an honorable husband, a wonderful family man, and a great man of his Catholic faith. All that knew my dad, loved him, and respected his wit, wisdom, and willingness to understand the world and those people around him. He is survived by his adoring wife, Agnes Alene Bruton, who was by his side for over 66 years of an endearing and blessed marriage. Also surviving him, his four sons, the oldest son, Clyde, Michael, Paul and his wife, Sharon, and youngest son, Mark. His oldest child and his only daughter, Priscilla Kay, who was a Catholic Nun, and also lovingly known as “Bunky” as a youngster, preceded him in death in 1984. My dad is also survived by his granddaughter, Bethany Mulvaney Fodal, with husband, Jason, and son, Nathan. He will be missed by all who knew and loved him.
My dad told me one time when I was a young lad fishing with him and my brother, Mark, that his favorite Bible scripture was Romans 8:28, as stated by Paul of Tarsus, “And we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose”. I know my dad’s life had true purpose, and was an inspiration to us all.
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