Alice Bruner

Alice “Porky” Marie (Stritz) Bruner of Cambridge, Ohio passed away peacefully on Tuesday (July 29, 2025) at her home surrounded by her family. Alice was carried into Heaven to be with her Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, where she was reunited with family and friends.

Alice was born April 30, 1935 to Ernest and Alma Stritz in Florence, Ohio. She was a 1953 graduate of Caldwell High School.

The Lord would use Alice’s brother, Buck Stritz, to introduce Alice to the one love of her life, Harry E. Bruner of Cumberland, Ohio, whom she would marry on August 23, 1957.

In the 1970s, the Lord was again gracious to Alice, and sent a door-to-door evangelist to talk with her husband Harry. The evangelist asked him, “Harry, you say that you and your wife know the Lord, but what about your children?” From that day forth, they would all attend church nearly every Sunday.

After raising her children, Alice would work for 15 years as a nurse’s aide in the maternity department of Guernsey Memorial Hospital. Later, she would sell property for more than 30 years with her husband at Bruner Land Company, where she was the top sales agent.

Alice was full of life and full of energy. Her wit and dry humor were simply unmatched. She loved to clean house, cook, and take care of her lawn and flower beds. Lilacs and irises were her favorites. She was constantly updating and rearranging her house, which she kept impeccably clean. She also spent endless hours helping clean the sanctuary and restrooms at Stop Nine Church of Christ.

Alice also loved to shop and enjoyed her many trips to Amish Country where she would search out deals on furniture, antiques, and other knick-knacks. She wasn’t only looking for items for herself, but for family members as well.

In Alice’s life, her husband and family always came first. Her love for them was unconditional. She worried over them and tended to their every need. She always made sure that her children were in Church. She was a member of Stop Nine Church of Christ in Byesville.

Alice was officially voted the world’s greatest mom by her children. She is survived by her two sons, Doug Bruner (Becky Schultice) and Eric Bruner (Deanna Boyle); three daughters, Diana Steele (David Steele), Lori Garland (Jim Garland), and Sheri Badertscher (Tom Badertscher); one sister, Agnes Stritz Bailey of Hebron; one sister-in-law, Sandee Stritz of Florence; one brother-in-law, Dick Davis of Cumberland; and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Harry E. Bruner, who passed away July 16, 2021; two brothers, Buck Stritz and Carl Stritz; and one sister, Rebecca Stritz.

A special thanks to Hospice of Guernsey and Kyla Eubanks, for the comfort and excellent care they provided for our mom. Also, a special thanks to mom’s absolute best friends and caretakers (in order of hiring), Charlee Petry, Denise Phillips, Ellen Adair, Patsy Hare, Cathy Lingafelter, and Debbie Lawson. Thank you all for your endless hours in helping our mom for so many years. Your love and care for Alice were unmatched, you have become a part of our family, and we are forever indebted to you. We could not have asked for six better people. You are true angels.

Thank you, mom, for never giving up on us. Thank you for being the mom we needed, and not the mom we wanted. Thank you for teaching us to laugh, even in the most difficult situations. Thank you for teaching us to stand on our own. Thank you for showing us what love is. Thank you for teaching us how to work. Thank you for teaching us right from wrong, and for taking us to church. The proudest moments in our lives are when we could tell others that you were our mom. We love you momma. We will always remember you. We are sorry for all the trouble we put you through. We will stick together as a family and help one another.

We thank God for his grace and mercy, and the many years and many added years that momma had with us. We also thank God for blessing us with a perfect dad and mom. We didn’t deserve that.

Alice is now home with Harry. No longer will she have to ask, “Where is Harry?”. No longer will she have to wait to see her mom and dad. Thank you, Lord.

Visitation will be held Saturday (August 2, 2025) from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Stop 9 Church of Christ, Byesville, where funeral services will follow at 1 p.m. with Evan. Woody Biggs officiating. Black-Epperson Funeral Home, Byesville, is handling arrangements.

Burial will be at Center Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers and gifts, the family requests that contributions be made to Hospice of Guernsey Inc., PO Box 1165, Cambridge OH 43725.

Personal condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.black-eppersonfuneralhomes.com