Ronnal E Bruton was born at the home of his grandparents in Bynum, Texas on November 26, 1945 to JW & Willie (Waller) Bruton. JW was serving in the US Army in Illinois at the time of his birth, and Willie’s brothers sent a telegram to JW that his daughter had been born. Ronnal still had the little bracelet that his daddy brought, across the country to meet his first child.
He grew up in Dallas, Texas but he spent as much time as he could at his grandparents and cousins’ homes in rural Hill County. During school, he was a member of the ROTC and would tell stories about parking cars at Fair Park and getting to attend sporting events and concerts for free. He also raised and showed pigeons. He graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School.
He and his cousin, Frank Watson, roomed together in college even though both of their mothers were sure it was a bad idea. Two college degrees and only one broken bone later it turned out to be okay. Ron graduated from John Tarleton College in 1969. Later, when the college became Tarleton State University, he was given the opportunity to get a new diploma and class ring with the new name. “No thanks” he said, proudly, “I did not graduate from Tarleton State University, I graduated from Tarleton College!”
It was during a summer internship for the USDA Farmer’s Home Administration, that Ronnal met a pretty girl, Phyllis Smith, who was waiting tables while home from college for the summer. He asked her to go with him to the rodeo in West, Texas and a week later he asked her to marry him. After a year long engagement, they were married on July 25, 1969. They welcomed their only child Carrie Melinda in July of 1972.
For 33 years, Ron worked as a County Supervisor also known as a Loan Officer for the Farmer’s Home Administration which later became the Farm Service Agency. He and Phyllis and Carrie moved all across the state for his job collecting friends and memories as they went – living in: Stephenville, Corsicana, DeKalb, New Boston, Belton, Big Spring, Lingleville, Mineral Wells and finally Morgan Mill. Through his work, he served farmers and ranchers in 18 different counties.
Ron loved to calf rope and team rope and did so every chance he got. He enjoyed having cows and raising calves. He also loved to “wet a line” as he called it. He didn’t need to catch a big fish; he just wanted to catch fish. He could sit for hours jerking perch. He loved to talk and tell stories, and he loved family.
Ronnal was community minded and very active in the church wherever they lived. He had a heart for kids and has so many that claim him as a second dad. He was a 4-H Adult leader and would serve as the announcer for the stock show. He hauled kids and livestock many, many miles. For years, he worked the side entry gate at the Big Spring AJRA rodeo and learned to know many of those contestants and their families well. Any time anybody needed something, he was there. In fact, “He was there” is a pretty good description of his love of others. If someone he cared about graduated or got married or passed away or participated in an activity and he was able, then he was there. He and Phyllis would load up and drive across Texas to watch a cousin show a pig or a friend’s daughter play softball or to take his parents to the family reunion. The church needed to rent a van to send kids to camp, he was there. Somebody needed to run a weed-eater before Vacation Bible School, he was there. Can we bring out 30-40 kids from the youth group to your place for a hayride in below freezing temps? Sure, he was there. You need help moving 300 miles away? No problem. He was there, pulling a trailer.
He was always a man of action and a problem solver, but he was learning that praying for someone is often the best way to help. His love of Jesus, his love of family and friends, his willingness to serve and joyful spirit will be his legacy.
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| Hats of funeral attendees - hung up at the church for Dad's memorial service. |
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