Oren Bruton - Obituary

ren Douglas “Doug” Bruton, 82, a 3-year resident of Edgewater and previously of Bowie, MD, died at his home on August 17, 2014 after 9-month battle with cancer. Born on November 6, 1931 in Kinston, NC to the late Oren A. and Flora Ervin Bruton, Doug was a talented athlete and, while in high school, was drafted by the New York Giants baseball team. He chose instead to accept a football scholarship to the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill where he was a linebacker for the Tar Heels. He was also a pitcher on UNC’s baseball team. Doug graduated in 1955 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education. He remained an avid UNC fan all of his life. Doug served as a Major in the U.S. Marine Corps and a Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserves. While in the reserves, Doug was chosen to be an Intelligence Debriefing Analyst for “Operation Homecoming” after the Vietnam War. He retired from the U. S. Department of Defense as a Special Agent. In his retirement, Doug owned and operated an antique shop. He was a member of the Woodlawn Baptist Church in Bowie for over 40 years. Doug was preceded in death by his brother, Henry Bruton. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Virginia “Ginny” Terhune Bruton; one brother, Frazier Bruton of Kinston, NC; four nieces, Tamara Page, Deborah Zussman, Terri Friedl and Laura Little; seven nephews, Richard Hanson, Jr., John Hanson, Stephen Terhune, and Brett, Lance, Stephen, Craig and Eric Bruton; and 21 great-nieces and nephews. A visitation will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, August 21 at the George P. Kalas Funeral Home 2973 Solomons Island Road, Edgewater. A visitation will also be held from 10:30 until his funeral service begins at 11 a.m. on Friday, August 22 at the Woodlawn Baptist Church, 5001 Church Road, Bowie. Interment Lakemont Memorial Gardens. An online guestbook is available by clicking the 'sign guestbook' link above.