Dr. H. David Bruton

1934 - 2023

Dr. H. David Bruton
December 31, 1934 - August 18, 2023
Carthage, North Carolina - Dr. H. David Bruton of Southern Pines, North Carolina, passed away peacefully at home on Friday, August 18, 2023, with his wife of 66 years, Frieda, by his side.
He was born at home in Candor, North Carolina, on December 31, 1934, to Earl Dudley Bruton and Evelyn Adams Bruton (née Burt). He grew up in Candor on the family farm plowing the fields with his favorite mule, Daisy. He earned his undergraduate degree in Philosophy from UNC in 1957, and the day after he graduated, he married the love of his life, Frieda. He often referred to getting Frieda to say yes to him as "the best con job I ever pulled off."
David went on to attend medical school at UNC and completed his residency in Pediatrics at Johns Hopkins in 1964. He fondly remembered attending Baltimore Orioles and Baltimore Colts games during the heydays of Brooks Robinson and Johnny Unitas. He served as a Captain in the Air Force from 1964-1966.
After serving in the Air Force, David moved to Southern Pines and established Sandhills Pediatrics with Bill Clarke. He became involved in local politics and served on the school board from 1968-1974 - successfully integrating and consolidating the Moore County school district. This was the first school district in the state of North Carolina to fully comply with the integration standards set by the federal government. He met Jim Hunt in the 1970s and they formed a lasting friendship that served the children of North Carolina well for over 30 years. He was Chairman of the State Board of Education from 1977-1982. From pediatrics to politics, caring for children was always the focal point of his accomplished life.
While recognition was never the motive for his service, David was no stranger to it. In 1980, he was designated a Distinguished Alumni from UNC. He was a long-time member of the AMA, serving on its executive committee for many years as head of the legislative branch. In that role, he often traveled to Washington, D.C. to lobby national politicians on behalf of all children. He was a longtime North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS) leader and served as NCMS President from 1995-96. He served as NC Secretary of Health and Human Services from 1997-2001, where among many things he instituted statewide hearing tests of all newborns. In 2000, he was awarded the Order of the Longleaf Pine by Governor Jim Hunt. In 2004, he helped found the Moore Free and Charitable Clinic which provides affordable health care for the uninsured of Moore County. He was a North Caroliniana Society member receiving their highest award in 2017.
David received many other awards and acknowledgements throughout his long career of public service but believed his greatest achievement was his family. He wanted his grandchildren to "grow up with a world perspective that travel provides". He planned trips nationally and internationally for his entire family, assigning topics for reports they all had to present. He shared his love of civil war history and military minds with his family as they walked many battlegrounds. His grandchildren's fondest memories are of these family trips together.
We can't talk about David without also talking about his love of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In his words, "It took a country farm boy, raised on a dirt farm in Montgomery County, and showed him the library." He was the biggest UNC supporter - a UNC Rams club member who attended many football, basketball, and baseball games over many decades, from the 1957 National Championship team to the Tar Heels recent run to the NCAA final in 2022. He was also a long-time Kiwanis member. He was an expert poker player once winning a Steinway grand piano in a high stakes game. He was a creative cook and loved to feed family and friends and entertain at his Someday Farm home.
In addition to his parents, David is preceded in death by two older brothers: Earl Dudley Bruton Jr. and Ed Burt Bruton, and his sister: Sue Alice Bruton.
Dr. Bruton is survived by his wife, Frieda Bryant Bruton, his son: David (Denise) Bruton of Holly Ridge, NC, his two daughters: Evelyn (John) Harris of Morehead City and Ann (Ronnie) Willard of Wake Forest, NC, and his sister: Evelyn (John) Monroe of Pinehurst, NC. He is survived by eight grandchildren: Jordan (Ralph) Bracamonte, Callie Harris, Luke (McKenna) Willard, H. David Bruton III, Troy Willard, John Michael Harris, Evelyn Bruton, Hannah Willard, and three great-grandchildren: Bella, Hudson, and Bodie.
A memorial service will be held Thursday, August 24, 2023, beginning at 3 p.m., at Southern Pines United Methodist Church; 175 Midland Rd., Southern Pines, NC 28387.
The family would like to thank Demetris Horton and his many caregivers, their groundskeeper and dear friend, Harry Webb, and his physician Walter Morris.
During his long and dedicated public service, Dr. Bruton touched many lives. If you have a story to tell, good, bad or otherwise, please share - we'd love to hear them.
Donations in his memory may be made to the Moore Free & Charitable Clinic; 211 Trimble Plant Rd., Southern Pines, NC 28387 or online: https://moorefreecare.org/donations.
Services entrusted to Powell Funeral Home.
Online condolences may be made at PinesFunerals.com.