Dr. H. David Bruton
December 31, 1934 ~ August 18, 2023
Born in:
Candor, NC
Resided in:
Carthage, NC
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.
Services
Memorial Service: August 24, 2023 3:00 pm
Southern Pines United Methodist Church
175 Midland Road
Southern Pines, NC 28387
https://www.southernpinesumc.org
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Charities
The family greatly appreciates donations made to these charities in H. David Bruton 's name.
Moore Free & Charitable Clinic
211 Trimble Plant Rd.
Southern Pines,
NC
His life was centered around providing quality health care to not only young children but to the development of
the Moore Free and Charitable Clinic. This Clinic served those who did not have insurance. His faithful service to
Southern Pines United Methodist Church along with many other non profit organizations throughout our state,
were remarkable. He will be deeply missed! May God continue to bless his wife Frieda during the coming days!
Barbara J. Dice
So sad to read about Dr. Bruton. He was a special doctor to our 3 sons.
Sincere sympathy,
Eddie and Vetres Livengood
Great Doctor to my son many years ago, always made a child feel comfortable and they trusted him.
Prayers for comfort to Dr Bruton’s family and friends! He definitely left his mark in Moore County but also served at the State level. He encouraged others to share their talents and leave the world a better place. He was a positive influence to my generation!
Love, Becki and Steve Rohrbach
Wake Forest, NC
Dr. Bruton was a friend who genuinely cared for people, his patients, and students. Education was a priority in his service to the community. His legacy will live forever. He will surely be missed. Our prayers and thoughts are with the family.
Condolences to the Bruton family members on their loss. Dr. Bruton’s contributions to Southern Pines and the surrounding community were many. He and other civic-minded citizens helped make our (then) small town a fine place to grow up in the 1960s and 70s. We were lucky he was among us and we could see what where smarts and kindness can take a person. May he rest in peace.
I always enjoyed meeting with him at the inaugurations .
So sorry to hear of your loss. In transition we continue.
My deepest Condolences to the Bruton family on your loss. I had the opportunity to serve on Moore Free & Charitable Board of Directors with Dr. Bruton some years ago and he was a Genuine individual and his love for others brings to mind the scripture:
Mark 12:31 And the second is like, namely this, THOU SHALT LOVE THY NEIGHBOUR AS THYSELF, There is none other commandment greater than these. Dr. Bruton was the EPITOME of this scripture. It was ALWAYS an honor to be in his presence and work with him and learn from him. To see and witness an individual who cared about others and was Intentional in his love for his neighbour was always a blessing and inspiration. Thank you family for sharing Dr. Bruton. I pray God’s continued Comfort, Strength and Peace on his entire family.
Ann Brown
Frieda, I saw David`s obit in the News and Observer this morning. Please kn ow you and your family will be in my prayers. It is so hard to lose your hubby. Time helps some , but never completely.
It was my privilege to work with Dr. Bruton during the time I was a lawyer for the North Carolina Medical Society. We all learned from Dr. Bruton each time he deployed his rare and outstanding talent to captivate a room of people with a story. The story was always on-point, and was always laced with plain-spoken insight. The insight helped us understand, and made our work more effective. I am so very glad to have walked the earth at the same time as Dr. Bruton, to have learned so many things from him, and it makes me sad to say goodbye. Steve
A champion of the underserved, he lived what he spoke. Especially when it came to this population of people, especially the children.
He was an amazing, humble, loving, funny gentleman. I am certain he is filling the Heavens with his laughter with a group of children at his knee.
You will be missed Sir.
Prayers are lifted for Freda and all the rest of the beautiful family he leaves behind.
Much love
Dr. Bruton was mine and my sister’s doctor and my oldest son’s doctor. When I was the director at Aberdeen Head Start he came and partnered with us for our male involvement program and our literacy program. He and my grandfather, Vance Wilson, worked together at some point with helping get the head start program off the ground for Moore county. When my son was first born I asked him about his circumcision. He said it’s going to look like that bc he’s white! 😂 little did he know my son was biracial. 😂 I’m praying for his family. I know how it feels to loose such a great person .
So very sorry. My thoughts and prayers go out to the Bruton family.