Rev. Richard Arthur De Bruyn was born in July 1925 in Grand Rapids, Mich., and died Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010, at Sierra Vista Hospital in San Luis Obispo. He was a music major at Long Beach City College and was an accomplished bass soloist. He even sang a solo at a cathedral in Zurich, Switzerland. He also studied the pipe organ at the Congregational Church in Long Beach. He served in the U. S. Marine Corps with the Marine Air Group VMSB 133 and U.S. Naval Air Group in Jacksonville, Fla., during World War II. He worked as a claims specialist for State Farm Insurance for 24 years in San Luis Obispo and Santa Maria. After he retired from State Farm, he attended and graduated from the Episcopal School for Deacons Seminary. He was ordained and served at St. Barnabas'' Episcopal Church in Arroyo Grande for 17 years, and was a Chaplain at the California Men''s Colony in San Luis Obispo for 14 years. He then joined the choir at the First United Methodist Church in Arroyo Grande. After he retired from his Deacon activities, he traveled and enjoyed his family and friends. Richard is survived by his spouse of 64 years, Tilli De Bruyn; children Marilyn Alexander (Dave) of Phoenix, Ariz., Charles De Bruyn (Georgette) of Norwalk, Calif., Virginia De Bruyn of Ogden, Utah, Anthony De Bruyn of Arroyo Grande and Neil De Bruyn (Donna) of Wichita, Kan. He is also survived by grandchildren Joshua Lea of Ogden, Charles De Bruyn (Mary) of Lake Arrowhead, Calif., Christine De Bruyn (Adam) of Costa Mesa, Calif., Danielle De Bruyn and Benjamin De Bruyn of Wichita; brother, Jack De Bruyn (Joan) of Raleigh, N.C.; and sister, Ruth Calden of Madison, Wis. A service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 8, 2011, at St. Barnabas'' Episcopal Church, 301 Trinity Ave. in Arroyo Grande. Contributions can be made to American Diabetes Association , Always and Forever Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 2650, N. Canton, Ohio 44720.
Published in San Luis Obispo Tribune on December 19, 2010.