Columbia Star

1963        Celebrating 60 Years      2023

Remembering Red and his time at Epworth Children’s Home



Cleo and Red Bruner on their 60th Anniversary Photo courtesy of the Bruner family

Cleo and Red Bruner on their 60th Anniversary Photo courtesy of the Bruner family

John Robert “Red” Bruner Sr. passed away January 18. Red was an active member of Petersen Presbyterian Church and a faithful alum of Epworth Children’s Home. He was preceded in death by parents, Paul and Ione Mae (Bennett) Bruner, his beloved wife of 60 years, Cleo B. Bruner (2014); his son, John R. Bruner Jr. (2015); siblings, Paul (1937), Charlie (2003), and an infant sister (1933).

Red was survived by daughters Nancy (Ralph) Bourgoin and Donna (David) Dvorak; son Paul (Mary) Bruner; grandchildren Andrea Bourgoin, Kenny Chandler, and Bruce Long Bruner; great-grandson Ryker Chandler; sister-in-law Helen Whitaker; and paternal first cousins Betty, Billie Margaret, Bonnie, Faye, Patsy, JoAnn, Mike, and Ricky.

Red was born in Cheraw, S.C. December 27, 1929. He had two older brothers, Charlie and Paul. After the birth of their only sister in 1933, tragedy struck his family when both of Red’s parents and their infant daughter died from pneumonia. The nation was heading into The Great Depression and Red’s father’s family insisted the three boys stay together in their new living situation.

Epworth Children’s Home’s 1949 Football Team Photo courtesy of the Bruner family

Epworth Children’s Home’s 1949 Football Team Photo courtesy of the Bruner family

They were faithful members of their local Methodist church. With the support of members of the church, Red and his two brothers were moved to Epworth Children’s Home in 1934. Red was four years old. His experience at Epworth was the only childhood Red ever knew, and he remained grateful to the day he passed for it. Sadly, Red’s oldest brother, Paul, died at Epworth Children’s Home from an unknown illness in 1937.

Red was a storyteller and his favorite pastime was telling tales of his childhood years. His son, Paul, said, “My father never had anything negative to say about Epworth, only positive things to say.” His children said he told them many stories over the years, and they also felt the Epworth family was their family.

Red was grateful to the foundation for the life he received at Epworth, for the opportunity to have over 350 “brothers and sisters,” and to have met his wife, Cleo, who also grew up at Epworth. Red and Cleo both lived at Epworth from their early childhood years until their graduation from Dreher High School in 1951 and 1953, respectively. Red said, “I used to rake straw in the field where Dreher High School is now.” After graduation, Red served for two years in the United States Navy during The Korean War. Afterwards he came home and married Cleo in January, 1954.

Over the years, the Bruner family attended Epworth homecomings every June and participated in all Epworth alumni activities. Red’s daughter, Donna Dvorak, said, “We would all flock there every summer. That was a big thing to go to the Epworth Homecoming.”

Red grew up at Epworth during the years of The Great Depression and World War II. The children there were especially blessed because of the South Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church’s pledge to financially support the institution. However, the children spent still every available hour working on the farm to provide food their meals. The home was in many ways a self-sufficient operation. The boys milked cows twice a day on farmland that belonged to Epworth across what is now Millwood Avenue. Red told his children they always had a two gallon pitchers of milk on the both ends of every table for every meal. “You could have all the fresh milk you wanted.”

The boys of Epworth traveled by bus every day after school to Caughman Farms on Garners Ferry Road. They ploughed the fields and brought back wheat and corn to Adluh Flour in downtown Columbia to trade in for sacks of fresh milled flour and cornmeal. Red says his favorite activity was taking the fruits and vegetables picked from the farm every day to the girls in the kitchen at Epworth to be canned. This was his chance to see Cleo, the girl he would later marry.

Some of Red’s favorite stories to share with his family and friends include playing football on the Epworth football team. The team was one of the best in the state at the time, rarely losing a game. Red drove the bus to the football games in places like Lower Richland, Batesburg Leesville, and Swansea High School. He shared that one time the Epworth bus broke down on a steep hill near Lexington. All the athletes got out and pushed it up the hill to the game.

Donna said her father especially loved playing football and baseball at Epworth. “I don’t think he ever wanted to leave. I think he would still be there playing football and baseball.”

Trish Sargent, pastor at Petersen Presbyterian Church, and long-time friend of Red and his family spoke about the importance of Epworth Children’s Home to Red during the homily she shared at his funeral.

“ Yes, though his institutional upbringing would not have been considered ideal by many, Red saw his early life as a lifelong gift. Both Red and Cleo would tell their children, “If it weren’t for those house parents, we don’t know where we’d be. We were secure. They taught us the things a parent should teach their children, and we taught our kids that way: love, self-discipline, independent thinking, how to make decisions, organization, how to share work, to finish a task, predictable schedules, and Christian teaching. We got the opportunities for a healthy young life. They also let us have fun—times for outings, a weekly ice cream treat, time with his sweetheart, Cleo.”

Red’s daughter, Donna Dvorak, shared the following story from her father’s childhood and the legacy he and his brothers left to Epworth Children’s Home.

The story begins when our dad was a youngster and living at Epworth and is told by the social worker who investigated the case of dad and his two brothers. In this story my dad is John (dad’s nickname was R ed), Charles is our late Uncle Chuck, and Boyd was our dad’s oldest br other, known by Paul. Imagine with me, a social worker holding a piggy bank while telling his listeners this is to become the foundation stone of a new church at Epworth Children’s Home. The social worker continues, “Today for the second and last time this little money bank of Boyd Bruner’s is being opened revealing two quarters, one dime, two nickels, and ten pennies…” These three little brothers were the first children whose case he had investigated. It was Labor Day 1934 that Boyd, Charlie, and John arrived at Epworth, a fitting time for these three little orphan brothers to be placed in the care of Epworth Children’s home. Three years later, Boyd was hospitalized. When the social worker would visit, Boyd would always greet him as he displayed the coins he had been given. One morning the social worker stopped by the hospital to see Boyd. Seeing the sand in the hourglass running low, he asked Boyd if there was anything he would like. In a half- whispered voice Boyd said, “Yes, I would like to have a little piggy bank to keep my money in.” His wish was granted and early the next morning Boyd passed away with his piggy bank lying by his side into which he had put his two quarters, the dime, the two nickels, and ten pennies. When the boys arrived at the office the social worker gave Charlie and John their small inheritance from Boyd. Charlie opened the bank and counted the coins— 40 cents each! The social worker told the brothers it was theirs. He asked the boys how will you spend it—“ for candy,” “chewing gum,” “Coca- Cola,” or for something you can keep in memory of Boyd?” Charlie looked at John and finally he said to John, let’s give it to Epworth orphanage for the new church. John said it’s all right with me. So, on February 15, 1951, the social worker keeping faith with these little boys in mind from Chesterfield County turned over to the bookkeeper their inheritance from Boyd, requesting this small memorial to Boyd Bruner be used for the foundation stone of God’s new church at Epworth. What is the lesson here? What did our dad teach us? It takes so little to make a big impact on the lives of others. I shall conclude with the prayer our dad said before every meal, “Heavenly Father accept our thanks for these and all thy many blessings. For Christ’s Sake— Amen.” Let me remind you that these words were spoken by a man who was orphaned and rose above his dilemma by being thankful for what he had. Thank you, Dad! Thank you! Memorials for “Red” John R. Bruner Sr. may be sent to Epworth Children’s Home, PO Box 5046, Columbia, SC 29250.

Epworth Children’s Home was established in 1895 by the Methodist people of South Carolina. It has received financial support from the churches of the South Carolina United Methodist faithfully since its founding. Information about giving to Epworth Children’s Home is provided at www.epworthchildrenshome.org.

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