Brust, Royal A. & Ruth Anita (Spence)

Tulsa Word
http://www.tulsaworld.com
Tulsa, Tulsa County, Oklahoma
May 21, 2006, pg A20

The Oklahoman
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma
May 21, 2006, pg A21

Brust, Royal A. & Ruth Anita (Spence)

Brust, Royal A.

One of Midwest City’s earliest pioneers, died Wednesday, May 17, 2006, at the age of 93. He had been in frail health for the past few years, following a stroke in 2002. He resided at Forest Hills Nursing Home, in Broken Arrow. Brust served as the first Mayor of Midwest City, from 1943-1945, after he and his wife, Ruth, contracted with W.P. “Bill” Atkinson to purchase one of the first houses in the new area next to Tinker Field. As a new Tinker employee, he helped organize the new city government of Midwest City and helped establish the many necessary municipal services, such as the fire department, garbage services and the public parks system. He rode the bus to Ohio to drive back the city’s first garbage truck. He was a founding member of the Volunteer Fire Department and served as a volunteer fireman for 35 years, before retiring. Brust and his wife were longtime active members of Wickline United Methodist Church, in Midwest City. He was a life member of the Lion’s Club and was a past President of the Midwest City Club. Brust was always active in Boy Scouts. He became an Eagle Scout as a youth and was later awarded the distinguished Silver Beaver, for his adult leadership in Scouts. He served as Pack Leader for Pack 47 for many years.Brust retired from a 30-year career at Tinker Air Force Base, where he served as a Contracting Officer. Brust was born to George Edward and Sadie Elizabeth Brust on New Year’s Day, in 1913, in Wheatland, a small community southwest of Oklahoma City. He had a brother, Harry, who was seven years older. Brust was a graduate of Oklahoma City Classen High School. As a young man, he loved to travel and toured both the east and west coasts with friends in a Model AFord. He also loved racing and traveling on his Harley Davidson motorcycle. Brust married Ruth Spence, in 1937. They raised three children, who all graduated from Midwest City High School and the University of Oklahoma.

Following his retirement from Tinker, he and his wife traveled in various motor homes throughout North America, as they inspected campgrounds for KOA. They eventually moved from Midwest City in 1979, to Florida, where they lived for 12 years, before returning to Oklahoma. They lived in a retirement community in Tulsa, until the death of his wife, Ruth, in 1996. They had been married 59 years. Brust later married Wilma Elliott.

Surviving members of his family include his wife, Wilma of Tulsa; a son and daughterin-law, Jerry and Robbey Brust of Norman; a son and daughter-inlaw, Ken and Tory Brust of Tulsa; a daughter, Linda Brust Ochs of Tulsa; a grandson and his wife, Monte and Shayne Moore of Tulsa; a granddaughter and her husband, Amy and Blake Herndon of Tulsa; 5 great-grandchildren, Spencer, Emily Grace, Reed, Walker and Ellie; a niece, Pat Brust Deal; and 2 nephews, Bruce Spence and Ned Spence. He was predeceased by: his parents, who each lived to the age of 95; his brother, Harry; 2 grandsons, Spencer and Adam Brust; and son-in-law, L. Don Ochs. Visitation with family for Royal Brust will be 4 - 6 p.m. Sunday, May 21, 2006, at Stanleys Funeral Home located at 3959 E. 31st Street. A Funeral service will be conducted at 1 p.m. Monday, May 22, 2006, at Paylor Funeral Home, 412 N. Air Depot Blvd., Midwest City. Interment will be in the Brust family plot in Memorial Cemetery, in Edmond.

In lieu of flowers the family has suggested contributions to the Lion Royal A. Brust Endowment, established under the Oklahoma Lions Service Foundation to support the Oklahoma Lions Boys Ranch, www.oklionsfoundation.org. Stanleys, (918) 743-6271.

The Oklahoman
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma
June 15, 1996, pg 26

BRUST, Ruth Anita (Spence), 79, of Tulsa, formerly Midwest City, died Wednesday, June 12, 1996 in Peoria, Il. She was born February 10, 1917, in Oklahoma City, Ok. to Robert B. and Pearl Spence.

Ruth is survived by her husband, Royal A. Brust, whom she married on February 24, 1937, in Oklahoma City. She is also survived by two sons, Jerry of Peoria, Il. and Kenneth of Kansas City, Mo.; a daughter, Linda (Mrs. Don Ochs) of Tulsa, Ok.; a grandson, Monte Moore of Broken Arrow, Ok; and granddaughter, Amy Brust of Houston, Tx.

She was a long-time resident of Midwest City, living there for 38 years. She then lived in North Port, Fl. for 12 years and in Peoria, Il. for 5 years. Ruth worked for the Midwest City School District for 14 years and for the U.S. Air Force at Tinker Air Force Base for 6 years. She and her husband also worked 6 years as campground inspectors for KOA.

A graduate of Classen High School, she attended the University of Oklahoma for two years. She was also a graduate of the Blackwood-Davis Business School in Oklahoma City. Ruth served as a long-time den mother for the Cub Scouts and as a member of the Daffodil Garden Club of Midwest City. She was an early and long-time member of the Wickline United Methodist Church of Midwest City and was a current member of Asbury United Methodist Church of Tulsa. She served as a hospital volunteer in Venice, Fl. and at St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa.

Services will be 11:00 a.m. Monday, June 17, at Paylor Funeral Home Chapel in Midwest City with Mr. Bob Winslow officiating. Visitation will be from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Sunday at Paylor Funeral Home.

Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery in Oklahoma City. Memorials may be made to the memorial funds at either Wickline United Methodist Church or Asbury United Methodist Church.

[Brother Spence, Bruce G. Sr.]

Source: The Oklahoman.

Contributed by Marti Graham, March 2007. Information posted as courtesy to researchers. The contributor is not related to nor researching any of the above.