Rodney Francis Brunton, 74, of Drum Point died May 18, 2008, at his residence.
He was born November 9, 1933, in Altoona, Pennsyvania, to Camillus A. Brunton and the late Anna Margaret Stoltz.
He grew up in Detroit. He attended Delasalle High School, the University of Detroit and the University of Detroit Law School. He graduated in 1954 with a law degree.
During the Korean War, he entered the U.S. Air Force and traveled to numerous military bases and outposts throughout Asia and Europe as a JAG.
During the Vietnam War, he supported the troops extensively, earning the Bronze Star. After the Vietnam War, he was selected to serve as a military judge. He retired from the U.S. Air Force in 1989 after 32 years of military service.
His decorations include the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal with three devices, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Longevity Service Medal with six devices, National Defensive Medal and the Air Force Overseas Service Long Tour Ribbon with three devices.
During the next nine years, he worked at Andrews and Bolling Air Force Base as a civil service lawyer.
After his retirement from the U.S. Air Force, he settled with his family in Lusby (Drum Point), where he enjoyed gardening, crabbing and traveling in his RV.
He attended services at the Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Immaculate Heart of Mary Church and Our Lady Star of the Sea Church in Solomons.
He was preceded in death by his mother; and sister, Marita (Brunton) Brys of Lapuente, California.
He is survived by his wife, Joan C. (Gabriel) Brunton; three children, Neil B. Brunton and his wife Jolie Ann, and two sons, Race and Chance Brunton of New Mexico; Craig P. Brunton of California; daughter, Camille Ann (Brunton) Anderson, and her husband Robert, and two sons Andrew and Christopher Anderson of Waldorf; father, Camillus A. Brunton and a sister, Paula R. Brown, both of San Dimas, California.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held August 20 at the Fort Myer Old Post Chapel, Fort Myer, Virginia, at 10:45 a.m., followed by full military honors and burial at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.
Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of choice.
BRUNTON, RODNEY FRANCIS
- LT COL US AIR FORCE
- VIETNAM
- DATE OF BIRTH: 11/09/1933
- DATE OF DEATH: 05/18/2008
- BURIED AT: SECTION 60 SITE 8381
- ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.
Reviewed by: Michael Howard