Henry Dickson "Harry" Bruns II

BRUNS, Henry Dickson II "Harry," of Howardsville, Virginia, died peacefully in Charlottesville, Va. on September 23, 2010, comforted by family and friends. Bruns, as old and dear friends called him, was born a fifth generation New Orleanian in the autumn of 1926, to T.M. Logan Bruns, a prominent attorney, and Bland Cox Bruns. He often helped in the election campaigns of his mother, a Louisiana state legislator who cast that state's legislature's lone vote supporting the Brown v. Board of Education decision. Raised in New Orleans, he attended high school at Christ School in Arden, N.C., and spent a summer working for Higgins Industries in New Orleans building amphibious landing craft for WWII. Following graduation at age 17, Bruns enlisted in the United States Marine Corps but the war ended before he shipped out. Honorably discharged, he enrolled at the University of Virginia, where he received B.A. and M.A. degrees in economics, finishing in 1950. In 1950 he married Nancy Peyton du Pont and that same year reenlisted in the USMC, serving in the Korean Conflict. A masterful storyteller, his favorite about his military service relayed the erroneous announcement that appeared in his wife's home town newspaper - amusing to all except his mother-in-law - which stated, "Lt. Bruns has just returned to his wife from 11 months active duty in Korea in time for the birth of their first child." After briefly working at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C., his young family moved to Houston, Texas, where in 1955 their second child was born. There he began his career as an independent oil operator, exploring for and producing oil and natural gas in Central Texas for the U.S. market. After the end of his first marriage, he married Catherine Masterson Cage in 1969. In the late 1980s he moved to his farm on the James River in Virginia, where he pursued his many interests, especially canoeing, fishing and living close to nature. He remained devoted to his Alma mater and to the memory of Thomas Jefferson, the founder of "The University," giving both time and financial support to UVA and Monticello. He also created a fund to provide a Jefferson nickel to every member of each incoming class at UVA, as a reminder of their tie to Jefferson. He also served on the Board of Trustees of Christ School and was instrumental in helping the school resolve the financial troubles it was facing at the time. Throughout his life, he possessed an uncanny ability to bring people together through his persuasion, humor, and generosity, often initiating interesting friendships that otherwise would not have formed. Many people will remember him in many ways. He is survived by his son, Peter Bruns, daughter-in-law, Kathleen Rice, and grandson, George Bruns, of Greensboro, N.C.,; daughter V. Peyton Bruns of New Orleans and Washington, D.C.; stepson, Michael Masterson Bruns of St. Paul, Minn., and scores of cousins. The family expresses thanks to Dr. Jonathan Evans and the devoted cadre of care givers who were so very special in his last years. In lieu of flowers, any memorial considerations may be made to the Integrity Fund, established by him to honor his friend, Ernest Henry Ern, at UVA's College at Wise, Virginia (contact Mrs. Tami Ely at 276-376-1057). A memorial service will be held soon at Christ Church, Glendower, near Keene, Virginia. Friends may sign the guest book at www.hillandwood.com.


This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.