Frank Bruno, Jr.

Frank may have been born in Texas (Archer City) on November 5, 1924 but he made it to Oklahoma as quickly as his mother could bring him and his brother to the "good" side of the Red River. You see, Frank was no ordinary Okie, he embraced this Great State with all the passion, energy and love he put into everything. Frank was an amazing storyteller, amateur photographer, accomplished accordionist, dedicated tennis-player and occasional ski-boat driver. And while his list of skills could go on for pages, one thing he never quite mastered was joke-telling. Although he always found his way to the punch line, most of us were already bent over howling at the several attempts it often took to land the joke. From his earliest OKC roots where he worked at the family grocery store alongside his mother Sylva Lois Minton Bruno and adored older brother James, to his ardent love for all-things Oklahoma sports, Frank was in many regards, the unofficial "Mr. Oklahoma". After graduating from Central High School, Frank entered the US Navy and served during WWII. He received an honorable discharge and returned to Oklahoma City to attend Oklahoma City University. He played football at OCU where he was known as "Golden Toe" and was inducted into the OCU Sports Hall of Fame. While playing football at OCU, he met a young cheerleader named Xochitl and they married June 6, 1948 in the original St. Luke's Methodist Church (on 8th and Robinson). From that beautiful moment on, Frank and Xochitl were constant fixtures at St Luke's, working tirelessly with the church's Youth Group, mission trips, annual UMC conferences and church leadership. Not long after Frank and Xochitl helped found St. Luke's Wedding Ring class (for newlyweds) many of their Sunday school friends and newly pregnant couples questioned the type of mattresses they had recently purchased from Frank's furniture store. Frank was best known as the owner of Bruno's Home Furnishings. For more than 50 years the store helped to fill Oklahoman's homes with fine furniture, while also serving as an ad hoc meeting place for his fellow Central High School classmates. In 2005, he lost Xochitl, the love of his life and bride of more than 60 years to cancer. At last the two have been reunited, undoubtedly holding hands and sharing an endless bowl of Braum's ice cream. Frank and Xochitl raised three amazing kids, seeing their families grow and flourish- Tony his wife Martha, Mark his wife Lisa, and Gina and her husband Allen; Seven grandchildren, Eric Bruno and wife Lynn, Kristin Liles and husband Chris, Nickolas Bruno, Kristen Smith and husband Oliver, Taylor Bruno, Travis Bruno and wife Mandy, and Lauren Perry and husband Brett; 8 great grandchildren ages 2-13; a niece Tsenina Bruno-Thompson, husband John, and their kids Chad and Lindsea Ballew; and a nephew, Dan Bruno and his wife Donna. Visitation will be at Smith & Kernke on Thursday, April 27 with the family receiving friends from 6 – 8 p.m. The funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, April 28, 2017, at St. Luke's United Methodist Church. Burial will follow at Sunny Lane Cemetery.