- Patrica R. Bruner
Tell City, IND
Patricia Ray Thomas Bruner, mother, teacher, writer and political activist died on Wednesday, November 16 at Bloomington Hospital in Bloomington, Indiana after a lengthy battle with cancer.
Patricia Ray Thomas was born on November 7, 1931, in Downs, Illinois. She was the oldest of Raymond A. and Mary Alice Weaner Thomas' the four children. Prior to his induction into the US Navy during World War II, Raymond relocated his family from Taylor Ridge to the family homestead near Derby, Indiana.
Patricia graduated from Tell City High School as Salutatorian in 1949. At the age of 17 she married Wallace (Wally) Bruner also of Tell City. Over the ensuing 15 years, she traveled across the United States as a two year stint in the US Air Force and work took the couple from Indiana to Phoenix, Arizona to Washington, DC. During that time Ms Bruner worked as a radio station manager, copy writer and advertising executive while bearing 10 children.
Following their divorce in 1965, Ms Bruner chose to remain in Washington DC to raise her family. She served as Managing Editor of the Catholic Voice of Washington DC newspaper until 1973, where she was often at odds with the Conference of Catholic Bishops over the issues of birth control, the role of women in the church, the death penalty and the Viet Nam war. A pro-life liberal, she believed that being pro-life meant caring for children after they are born as well as before. She was a lifelong advocate for children, opening her home to hundreds of teenagers seeking safety, mentoring and fostering. The house eventually earned the unofficial title of Bruner Community Center. As a staunch opponent of the US involvement in Viet Nam, she also opened her home to anti-war protestors, US servicemen and women, and other groups seeking redress of grievances against the US government. After the high school graduation of her youngest child she returned to college, eventually earning a degree in Urban and Regional Planning.
Following her graduation from college she relocated to Dayton, Ohio and spent the next 15 years helping workers displaced by the off shoring of manufacturing jobs develop new skills so that they could reenter the job market. In 1993, she retired and moved back to southern Indiana to be closer to her parents. She continued to write, research Thomas family genealogy and to teach and counsel the children of Perry County until her final illness.
Surviving are her children, Rick (Ginny) Bruner of Chicago, IL, Mike (Kathy) Bruner of Greenwood, IN, Ted (Carol) Bruner of Bound Brook, NJ, Tim (Sydney) Bruner of Laurel, MD, Kathy Bruner of Bloomington, IN, Kevin (Gloria) Bruner of Bloomington, IN and Kris Bruner of Ellettsville, IN; brothers, Dr. John Thomas of Columbus, OH and Dr. James Thomas of Cumberland, KY; 18 grandchildren, Christie and Josh Cataldo, Kyle Bruner and Sarah Brown, Kelly Wright, Jennifer Casselberry, Bonnie, James, Jason and Michelle Bruner, Carrie Cristinzio and Ryan Blackwell, Tim, Silas, Michael, Gabrielle and Katrine Bruner; great grandchildren, Max, Sam and Jack Cristinzio, Bailey Blackwell, Mackenzie Wilmoth and Evan Bruner, Derek Brock, Alex and Curtis Cataldo, Tristan Harvey and Lily Bruner.
Preceding her in death are her parents, Raymond and Mary Alice (Weaner) Thomas, daughters, Sherri Bruner-Osteen and infant Bonnie, and a brother, Gerry Thomas.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. CST on Monday, November 21, 2011 at St. Augustine Catholic Church. Father Brian Esarey will officiate. Burial will be in St. Mary Cemetery, Derby. Visitation will be Sunday from 2-6 p.m. and Monday 9-10:15 a.m. at Zoercher-Gillick Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Augustine Catholic Church.
Published in Courier Press on Nov. 18, 2011
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1931 - 2011 (80 years)
