Friday, December 30, 2011 11:00 am St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Berlin, MD
Clebration of Life
December 30, 2011
2:00 pm
Community Church of Ocean Pines
Ocean Pines, MD
Private Burial
Flowers
(At Funeral Home) The Burbage Funeral Home 108 William Street Berlin, MD 21811
Obituary
The Rev. Dr. Fred M. Bruner, 79, of Berlin, died December 22, 2011, at Coastal Hospice on the Lake after a courageous battle with cancer.
Fred was born July 10, 1932 in Healdsburg, California to the late Wilmer Paul Bruner and Marion Bruner, who will be celebrating her 100th birthday in April 2012. Throughout his life, Fred held many jobs (teacher, lumberjack) before graduating from The Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary (PA) and entering the ministry full-time. In addition, he received a Doctorate of Theology from the University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia). Fred founded and developed the Asbury Child Development Center (Salisbury MD), The Community Church of Ocean Pines (MD) and St. Paul’s Church (Warrington PA). He also served as a counselor and therapist with local clinics, community organizations, and in private practice.
Later in life, Fred’s passion was gardening, a skill he learned as a young boy working in his father’s nursery. For many years, Fred was the caretaker of The Whaley Family Cemetery (Whaleyville MD).
A creative thinker, Fred was involved with numerous organizations centering on helping others. Special areas of interest were ADD, Lyme disease, organic gardening, and holistic medicine. Music was a special love for Fred. He was a gifted trumpeter and singer, even recording a 45 record with his late brother Don.
In addition to his mother, Fred is survived by his wife, Theresa Gumm Bruner; son, Stephen Bruner and his wife Mindy of Glen Rock PA; daughters, Cora Bruner of Arnold, Laurie Jones and her husband Doug of Salisbury, Marilyn Williams of Hebron, and Theresa Plack of Annapolis; sisters, Marilyn Howell and her husband Art of Kansas City, Ida May Abed and her husband Musa of Seattle, and Barbara Salvadori of Healdsburg; grandchildren Jennifer Truckey of Alabama, Sarah Fisher of Salisbury, Michelle Bruner of Arizona, Griffin Jones of Silver Spring, Ali Jones of Salisbury, Tyler and Caleigh Plack of Annapolis; great-grandchildren Amber and Katlynn Cassels of Alabama; and numerous beloved nieces, nephews and cousins.
Fred was preceded in death by his brother and sister-in-law, Donald and Wanda Bruner of Lancaster PA, and brother-in-law Rick Salvadori of Healdsburg.
A brief service of committal will be held 11 am Friday at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Berlin MD. Fr. Michael Moyer will officiate. A memorial service will be held at 2 pm Friday at The Community Church of Ocean Pines. The Rev. Bill Sterling will officiate.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his memory to Historic St. Martin’s Church (PO Box 590 Berlin MD 21811), Coastal Hospice (PO Box 1733 Salisbury MD 21802), and The Lyme Disease Association of the Eastern Shore of Maryland (P.O. Box 5360 Salisbury 21802).
Funeral arrangements are being handled by Burbage Funeral Home, Berlin MD.