George William Bruffey, Jr. was born on April 4, 1921 in Newport, Newport County Rhode Island to Pearl Ruth McKenzie (1898-1959) and George William Bruffey, Sr. (1898-1973). His father was in the Navy and was stationed in Newport, Newport County, Rhode Island; he was instrumental in the formation of the Naval Band and his band was also invited to play a "gig" in Cuba when his son, Billy was only 18 months old. Bill, as he was called in later life, worked at the Riggs National Bank after graduating from High School; and, joined the Navy in 1941, at age 20. Bill was on board a ship in port at Hawaii when the Navy asked for volunteers to attend Officer's Training School at Washburn University. Bill applied and was accepted, so he left Hawaii for Manhattan, Kansas to Washburn University Campus.
In between his classes, Bill met some of the other students attending Washburn at a cafe they all frequented. One day Mary Lou, a member of a sorority at Washburn decided they should host a dance and invite the Navy men attending Officers Training School, now that more men were on campus. It was her job to find the prettiest one for Bill or he was not going and her sister sorority friend, Libby, attending Baker University in Kansas, said she would come only if Mary Lou found her a tall one. Her friend told Libby, I will put you down for Bruffey.
The rest is history, as Bill and Libby were married on March 3, 1946 in St Luke's Methodist Church, Kilgore, Texas where Libby had grown up. Bill joined National Cash Register Company and designed accounting systems for banks; so, they lived in many places during their married life together beginning in Tyler, Texas. To this union were born 5 children:
Susan, Ann, Alice, Katherine, and George William III.
Bill retired from National Cash Register and began working with stained glass; he made and sold several beautiful pieces from sun catchers up to and including angels 3 feet tall that hold a candle in their hand. He was very talented in the pieces he created.
Bill died on November 12, 1973, in Plano, Texas from Pancreatic Cancer and Liver failure. Bill is survived by his widow, five children, 4 sons in law, one daughter in law, 21 grandchildren, and six great grandchildren. As well as one sister and one brother.
Family links:
Parents:
George William Bruffey (1898 - 1973)
Pearl Ruth McKenzie Bruffey (1898 - 1959)
Burial:
Sparkman Hillcrest Memorial Park
Dallas
Dallas County
Texas, USA
