Ed Brunson, Jr.

Ed Brunson, Jr. 1919-2017 Ed Brunson, Jr., 97, of Pensacola, Florida died peacefully at West Florida Hospital on April 29, 2017. As a young man, Ed served in the Navy, first at the Charleston Navy Yard and then in Oran, Algeria during WWII. After the war, he returned to the family farm in Beulah, Florida and went to work for the railroad. He was a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and in 1982 retired from the St. Louis-San Francisco Railroad, commonly known as "The Frisco." Upon retirement he sold the Brunson farm, and for the next 20 years he raised cattle and horses on a farm he established in Elberta, AL, appropriately dubbed "Dream Acres." In 2002, after the death of his wife, he remarried and returned to Pensacola, where he lived the rest of his life. Ed's pastimes included fresh-water fishing, RV camping, and attending rodeos, both as a participant and as a spectator. The hobby that outlived all others, however, was bowling. Since 1963, Ed continually earned trophies and led teams to victory in various bowling leagues. He was a member of the United States Bowling Congress. In recent years, senior citizen leagues at Cordova Lanes and DeLuna Lanes have been a source of friendship and exercise. Preceding Ed Brunson in death are his parents, Edd Brunson, Sr. and Mamie Helms Brunson; his wife of 64 years, Wilba Nichols Brunson, and his wife of seven years, Irma Webb York Brunson; his daughter, Elaine Brunson St. John and grandson, Jon William St. John; his sisters, Mattie Foye Brunson, Katie Brunson Webb, Una Brunson Bratcher, and Naomi Brunson Webb. He is survived by his granddaughter Michelle St. John (Jesse) Scherer and his great-grandson, Yonatan Benli Scherer and numerous nieces and nephews who refer to him affectionately as "Uncle Bub”. Pallbearers are Jesse Scherer, Larry Wright, Doug Wright, Larry Webb, Charles Doud and Clint Doud. Visitation will begin at 12:30pm on Tuesday May 2nd, 2017 at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North with services beginning at 2:00pm with Pastor Bill Flanagan officiating. Interment will follow at Pine Forest UMC Cemetery.

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Ed Brunson, Jr.

June 12, 1919 - April 29, 2017