Helen Bruner

Helen went to be with her Lord on January 25, 2006. She was born March 14, 1917 in Oklahoma City to Roy C. and Katie Schwab Harris. Following her graduation from Classen High School in Oklahoma City, she attended Judson College in Alabama before transferring to and graduating from Baylor University. During her years at Baylor she was a key member of Baylor?s renowned national championship women?s debating team. It was at Baylor that she met her husband of sixty-one years, J.W. Bruner, who preceded her in death in 1998. As her husband?s helpmate during his pastorate at First Baptist Church of Hillsboro, Texas from 1948 to 1964 she taught the Fidelis Sunday School class for sixteen years as well as directed the Young Women?s Association and Girls? Auxiliary. After the family moved to Oklahoma City, her love of serving others continued to be realized as a staff member of the First Baptist Church, directing the Baptist Student Union on the University Of Oklahoma College Of Medicine Campus. In the 1970?s and 1980?s she was a teacher at the Oklahoma Baptist Children?s Home, where she passed along her exceptional seamstress skills to scores of young women. She was a dedicated member of the First Baptist Church of Oklahoma City where she volunteered in numerous roles. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by one daughter, Helen Bruner Wood, as well as two brothers. She is survived by her daughter, Dana Bruner Dudek and husband Al of Morrisville, Pennsylvania; her son Jay Harris Bruner and wife Ellen of Plano, Texas; two brothers, four grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church of Hillsboro Building Fund, P. O. Box 271 Hillsboro, Texas 76645.