Ralph C. Bruner passed away peacefully Thursday, October 1st at the age of 94. He was the most devoted husband to his wife Cicely and the greatest father imaginable to his loving children, Martha and David.

Ralph loved and admired his talented daughter-in-law Tracie and always looked forward to spending time and sharing a laugh with his grandson Max. Even though they were more than eight decades apart in age, they shared a passion for art and Ralph treasured the pictures that Max drew for him.

In his professional life, R.C. (as he was known to many of his family and friends) worked in the aerospace industry as a metallurgical engineer and a chemist for several large corporations including Boeing and Rockwell International. While at those companies, he was granted several patents and contributed to many large-scale projects, perhaps the best known being the Apollo space program, the B-1 bomber and the Space Shuttle. After he retired from Rockwell in 1976, Ralph started his own successful laboratory -- Metlab Testing Services -- which became the largest in the southwestern United States.

Ralph was a rare individual. Though he was a brilliant chemist and metallurgist, he was also a gifted artist. He enjoyed painting as well as pottery and he also played the clarinet. He loved listening to big band and jazz music by the likes of Duke Ellington and Count Basie.

But perhaps Ralph's greatest love outside of his family was thoroughbred racing, first as a fan and then eventually as an owner and a breeder. His three best homebreds were Charley Gunn, Slewmeister and Annieville. That modestly-bred trio brought home over half a million dollars in earnings.

Ralph also loved foreign cars, travel, fishing, any meal that included corn bread and a dry gin martini (only one!) every evening before dinner.

There has never been a better father or husband than Ralph Clayburn Bruner. His family misses him, but they know that he is celebrating with his beloved Cicely in the kingdom of heaven.

Thank you, Daddy, for all that you did for us. We love you.


Rosary will be 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, October 6th, at Fitzgerald Ivy Chapel, and Funeral Mass will be 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, October 7th, at Christ the King Church.

FITZGERALD IVY CHAPEL 918-585-1151