Charles Gary Bruin

Charles Gary Bruin, 69, passed away Thursday, April 11, 2024, at his home in Georgetown. He was born November 6, 1954, in Georgetown to the late Charles W. and Betty Carol Glass Bruin. He graduated from Scott County High School, where he played basketball, football, and baseball. He attended and played football at Georgetown College. He received his bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina Greensboro in Psychology and his master's from Western Carolina University in Public Affairs.
He was a tireless advocate for children, older adults, and adults with intellectual disabilities. He worked for nearly 50 years in protection and care for the most vulnerable. For 22 years, he worked for the Baptist Children's Home of North Carolina. He was a house parent and eventually a housing director/family counselor for teenagers. After retiring, he began a second career as a social worker for the Cabinet of Families and Children in Kentucky. He worked to protect children, older adults, and adults with intellectual disabilities from abuse and exploitation. He worked around the clock for nearly 25 years, eventually becoming a policy analyst and writer for the Cabinet of Families and Children, where he assisted Social Workers in the field. He also worked as a poll worker for elections in Scott County, Kentucky, for many years. He was a model Kentuckian who truly loved and served the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
He was a faithful and loving Christian. He worked for many years in Baptist Churches and organizations and eventually settled in The Episcopal Church with his son. He was a member of Christ Church Cathedral in Lexington, KY.
Gary was a tremendous father to his son Charles. He also acted as another father to Charles' many friends and always provided a warm and safe environment for many of Charles' friends to have a home away from home.
He enjoyed UK Football and Basketball, listening to KSR, planting flowers and smoking good cigars, watching the birds in his backyard, and watching movies/TV shows from around the globe. He particularly loved Westerns and Sci-fi.
Gary will be lovingly remembered by his son, Charles William Bruin II, Boston, Massachusetts; sister, Judy Carol Bruin-Thomas; nephew, Michael Grizzle; Niece, Nikki Thomas; great nieces and nephews, Ryan (Katelin) Grizzle, Kaden Grizzle, Jared Grizzle, Logan Grizzle, Lilly Grizzle, Jensyn Grizzle, and great-great nephew, Kasen Grizzle. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Jerry Allen Bruin.
Funeral services will be conducted at 1:00 pm on Thursday, April 18, 2024, at Tucker, Yocum, and Wilson Funeral Home. Visitation will be held from 11:000 am until the time of the service. Burial will follow at Georgetown Cemetery, where pallbearers will be Cameron Webster, Ben Vickers, Charlie Bruin, Justin Miller, Michael Grizzle, and Kaden Grizzle. Family and friends are encouraged to share memories and leave messages of condolence on Gary's tribute wall at www.TuckerYocumWilson.com