Glenn S. Brunson Jr.

Glenn S. Brunson, Jr., passed away April 9, 2012, of natural causes in Eugene, Oregon, attended by his daughters, Christie Brunson, Ellen Brunson Newton, and son-in-law, Robert Newton. Dr. Brunson was a Midland native, born in Midland, 29th October, 1922. His parents, Glenn S. Brunson, Sr. and Nellie Elkin Brunson, who preceded him in death, were among the earliest ranching families in Midland. After graduation from Midland High School, Dr. Brunson graduated near the top of his class at West Point Military Academy, then serving in the 7th Cavalry during the occupation of Japan. He was promoted to Captain in 1952. He received a Master's degree in Physics from Princeton University, and a Phd. in Nuclear Physics from the University of Utah in 1979. Dr. Brunson worked as a senior nuclear physicist at Los Alamos National Laboratory in Los Alamos, N.M., for four decades, including diplomatic assignments for the Department of Energy as a visiting scientist in Portugal, Switzerland, and Austria. He was fluent in six languages. He was preceded in death by his wife, Lily Davis Brunson, and his sister, Shirley Brunson Hood. He is survived by his sister, Nellie Elkin Fields of Midland; daughters, Ellen Newton and Christie Brunson of Eugene, OR, and Candace Brunson of Tyler, TX; and his sons, Grier Brunson of Midland, Sam Brunson of Seattle, and Tim Brunson of Hawaii. Also surviving are his nephews, David Fields and James Gripp of Midland; and his grandchildren, Whitney Brunson of Hawaii, Evan Brunson of Midland, Gabe, Seth, Eli, Luke, Simon, and Jasper Newton of Eugene, OR, Kier and Mary Brunson of Eugene, and Forrest, Solomon, Charles Wagner of Tyler, TX, and Noah Brunson of Settle, WA. A private memorial service was held for Dr. Brunson in Oregon. Dr. Brunson is best remembered by his children as "simply the finest, most decent man we ever knew.".