William Alvin Bruder's Obituary
William Alvin Bruder, 91, of Jefferson Hills, passed away peacefully the morning of Monday, September 14th.
Bill was born and raised on Arlington Avenue in Mt. Oliver to William Leo and Mary Bruder. At age 16 he followed in his father’s footsteps and began his lifelong career at Mesta Machine Company as an apprentice. He worked as a machinist for Mesta until his retirement, taking only a two-year break to proudly serve as a Corporal in the US Army during the Korean War. Bill was stationed in Germany as a supervisor in the motor pool before his honorable discharge in 1953.
Before shipping out, he married the love of his life Catherine Richardson. His letters to her expressed how much he wanted to start a family and upon his return, Bill and Kate built a home on Gill Hall Road, and raised three daughters. They also kept many pets including his hunting beagles, cats, quail, and horses. The pair were happily married for 45 years until her death separated them.
He was a kind and gentle man, who worked hard his entire life to provide for his family and was always willing to help someone in need. He was quick with a joke and a smile, loved to garden and spend his evenings watching the sunset and the neighbor’s chickens from his swing. He was an avid hunter and fisherman, could build or fix anything, and had quite a talent for whistling. He survived every hardship in his life with stoic grace and fortitude and was a great friend to many who will miss him dearly.
Bill is preceded in death by his parents, his loving wife Kate, daughter Barbara, his siblings Mary Margaret, Alice, Rosemary, James, and Donald "Pink", son-in-law David Lindsay Chapman, and sisters-in-law Toni and Janet. He is survived by daughters Marcia Chapman and Diane (Bob) Wells, granddaughters Allison (Andrew) Podsiadlo and Lauren Chapman (Patrick Harding), great-grandsons Trenton and Bryson Podsiadlo, his nieces, nephews, and countless friends and neighbors.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Pennsylvania Veterans Foundation, P.O. Box 98, Annville, PA 17003 or at PaVeterans.org.
Visitation will be held from 3 PM to 7 PM on Sunday, September 20th at the JEFFERSON MEMORIAL FUNERAL HOME, 301 Curry Hollow Rd. Pleasant Hills, 15236. Interment will be at Jefferson Memorial Park. Condolences may be shared at www.jeffersonmemorial.biz
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