Anthony “Tony” Brutto, 98, of Morgantown, passed away Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020, at home in Morgantown.
Born April 21, 1921, in Manheim, W.Va., he was a son of the late Carlo and Josephine (Scalise) Brutto.
Tony is survived by his wife, Donna Stiles Brutto and their daughter, Melissa Brutto; his two children from his first marriage, Alan Brutto and his wife Aprile and Lisa Bridges and her husband Robert, all of Morgantown; his grandchildren Maxwell and Eva Bridges, Jeffrey Brutto, Anthony Brutto, Megan Horkins and Joseph Brutto; and three great-grandchildren Jayden, John Anthony and Joseph.
In addition to his parents, Tony was preceded in death by his first wife, Katherine Dorsey Brutto; and seven siblings including Stephen and Richard Brutto, Tracy Neice, Josephine Manzola, Mildred Mankins and Phillips and Mickey Brutto.
Tony was a graduate of the former Rowlesburg High School, where he lettered in football and baseball. He entered West Virginia University in 1939 and was drafted into the Army Air Corps in 1942 until the end of World War II. He was stationed in Venice, Fla., and was an Aircraft Mechanic, building and repairing P39 and P49 bombers.
He re-enrolled at WVU in 1946 but was unable to finish his degree at that time. In 2015, he graduated with a Regents Bachelor of Arts degree from West Virginia University at the age of 94 and became the oldest graduate in the university’s history.
In 1955, he began working for Thompson Products in Cleveland, OH, as a machinist in the tool room, manufacturing aircraft and spacecraft components. He then worked as a machinist for several years at various employers. He was a chemist at Alpha Cement Company in Frederick, Md., and finally retired in Morgantown.
Tony was a master wood craftsman, learning his skills as a young boy from a violin maker. All of his life, it seems, he stayed busy sculpting objects out of wood. He took into consideration the types of wood he was using and how the grain would create a pattern that replicated nature.
He was well known to have been the Poker dealer at the Owls Club in Morgantown for many years.
A celebration of Tony’s life will be held at Gene’s Beer Garden, 461 Wilson Ave., Morgantown from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 1.
Please consider making a contribution in Tony’s memory to Amedisys Hospice, 5007 Mid Atlantic Dr., Morgantown, WV.
Professional services are being provided to the family with the guidance of Smith Funeral & Cremation Care, 108 Holland Ave., Westover/Morgantown.
Condolences:
www.smithfcc.com
