James H. "Jimbo" Bruton

James H. "Jimbo" Bruton, of Owensboro passed away Monday, January 25, 2016 at Owensboro Health Regional Hospital at the age of 90. Born in Burkesville, KY a son of the late Michael and Georgia Tuggle Bruton, Jimbo was a graduate of Bowling Green High School where he lettered four years in football, basketball, and baseball. Too tall for the Navy or the Army Air Corps, he joined the U.S. Army in 1943 and went to jump school with the 82nd Airborne for the $50 hazardous duty pay. On September 17, 1944 the 508th Parachute Regiment of the 82nd jumped into Holland. His squad shortly found itself in Germany behind enemy lines. Left there as a rear guard, the squad of 12 was cresting a hill while working its way back to friendly lines. Attacked by the SS, the first 6 were killed and the remaining 6, of which Bruton was next-to-last, were wounded except the last one who didn't get a scratch. Out of ammunition, they were captured and impounded in a POW work camp. The group escaped as the Russian army drew near and traveled with them before rejoining their unit. Following hospitalization in Camp Lucky Strike at Cherbourg, France, they were repatriated to Miami, FL. Following his discharge Jim returned to Bowling Green where he met his future bride. There he set utility poles using dynamite before moving to Detroit to work in the steel mills. He returned to Owensboro to become the first non-management employee of Green River Steel, from which he retired as assistant superintendent of electrical maintenance.

Jim was an active member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 696. His many roles there included working with the reorganization of the VFW Honor Squad, with which he participated in well over 130 funeral services for veterans. He was committed to children, both his own and those of the community. His activities in the Masonic Lodge, the Shrine, and its clown troupe as Jimbo the Clown, were directed toward aiding crippled children. Jim was a supporter of Daviess County High School Athletics, having served as president of the Booster Club.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty Basham Bruton in 1997, his son Steven Michael Bruton in 2001, and his great-granddaughter Elizabeth Christine Bruton in 2013.

He is survived by his sons, James Bruton and his wife Pam of Fruitland Park, FL and Kevin Bruton and his wife Sharon of Owensboro; his grandchildren James Walter Bruton of Lebanon, KY, Kimberly Marie Cheeks of Georgetown, KY, Michael Joseph Bruton of Charlotte, Nicholas Reagan Bruton of Owensboro, Ethan Alexander Bruton of Newburgh, Sean Michael Bruton of Owensboro, Stephanie Maire Nunn of Bowling Green and Matthew Ryan Bruton of Owensboro; his great-grandchildren Victoria Abigail Bruton, Edward James Bruton, , and Brooklyn Noel Bruton, all of Owensboro and Andrew Cheeks of Georgetown, KY.

The funeral service will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday at Glenn Funeral Home and Crematory, where visitation will be from 4:00 until 8:00 p.m. Friday and after 8:30 a.m. Saturday. A Veterans Final Salute will be Friday at 5:00 p.m. and Masonic Rites at 7:00. Burial with full military honors afforded by the Honor Guard of VFW Post 696 will be in Rosehill Cemetery. Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to VFW Post 696, or the Shriners Hospital for Children, 1900 Richmond Road, Lexington, KY 40502-1204.