Mr. Bruce Bailey Brinkman, 78

CLINTON

Bruce Bailey Brinkman MSGT USMC Retired, 78 of Clinton, passed away Sunday, April 24, 2016 at home with his loving family by his side.

A private funeral mass will be held Wednesday with a full military funeral following at a later date.

He was born in Hankinson, ND, on July 25, 1937 to the late Leo John and Lenora Bailey Brinkman. He was a loving father, hard worker, faithful to his Lord and Savior, family, and country. He was a faithful member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church of Clinton where he served as a Eucharistic Minister. He served in the USMC 1955 - 1975. MSGT Brinkman’s tours of duty included, but are not limited to, several Mediterranean cruises, the 1958 Lebanon crisis, the Cuban crisis, three tours in Vietnam, Thailand, Hawaii, Okinawa, the Philippines, and countless other deployments abroad.

He is an alumnus of UNCW earning at BS in Psychology, and then furthering his education to include MBA and Ms.HR. He was a mathematics and business instructor at University of New Mexico and Sampson Community College.

Other than faith, family, and country, he was passionate about teaching, fishing, playing golf, and spending summers at his simple cabins at Buffalo Lake, SD.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Mary Ann Breker Brinkman of the home; his daughter Kimberly Ann Brinkman Honeycutt and husband Anthony, granddaughter Rachel Ann and fiancé Cody Cales Northcutt of Clinton; his daughter Kathryn Mary Brinkman Bain and husband David of Wilson, grandson Ryan David Bain and wife Shannon of Wilson, granddaughter Jacqueline Michelle Bain Cole and husband Jay of Sioux Falls, SD, granddaughter Kimberly Ann Bain Arizpe and husband Juan of Wilson, grandson Jeffrey Stewart Bain; his son Richard Bruce Brinkman and fiancée Tammy Haynes of Ash, granddaughter Mary Dianne Brinkman Bland and husband John of Ash, grandson Jonathan Bruce Brinkman and wife Brandy of Clarkton, and eleven great grandchildren; his sisters JoAnn Clark of Mesa, AZ, Catherine Milleken of Hanford, CA, and many nieces and nephews.

Special acknowledgement for the excellent home care given by Virginia Faison, CAN of Interim Healthcare.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Memory of Mr. Brinkman to the Disabled American Veterans, PO Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301; or to the National Marine Corp Museum, 3800 Fettler Park Drive # 104, Dumfries, VA 22025.

Services entrusted to Butler Funeral Home, 401 W. Roseboro Street, Roseboro.