Helen B. "Bonnie" Brutz

Helen "Bonnie" Skinner Brutz, 94, passed away at her home in Cambridge on Tuesday morning, February 4, 2014.

She was born at Town Point on September 19, 1919, the daughter of the late John Summerfield and Addie Rebecca Poole Skinner. Bonnie was raised on the farm at Town Point and was a 1936 graduate of Cambridge High School. Following graduation from Strayer Business School she was married to Everett Mack and moved to Elkhart, Indiana. While in Elkhart Bonnie was employed as secretary for the president of Miles Laboratories. She later served as secretary for the president of the G.C. Conn band instrument company and also supervised sales, advertising departments. In 1956 she moved back to Cambridge and was secretary for the administrator of Cambridge-Maryland Hospital and later for Mr. Francis V. DuPont. In December of 1961 she was married to Martin M. Brutz and moved to Niles, Ohio.

While in Niles Bonnie served as secretary and bookkeeper for her husbands home building company and several other entrepreneurial ventures in which he was involved. Mr. Brutz passed away in May of 1998, and in December of 1999 she moved back to Cambridge. Since returning to her home town she has enjoyed good health and renewing old friendships. She was an avid bridge player and crossword puzzle enthusiast.

She was a communicant of St. Mary Refuge of Sinners, Dorchester General Hospital Auxiliary, and a life member of the Cambridge Womans Club. While in Niles she served as a volunteer hospital worker and for 10 years delivered "Meals on Wheels".

She is survived by a daughter, Debbie M. Thomas and her husband Kenny, of Cambridge, two grandchildren, Kenneth Michael Thomas of Elkridge, MD, and Dr. Helen Margaret Thomas of Moab, UT, and her caregiver Jean Thomas of Cambridge. Two sisters, Nellie P. Skinner and Virginia L. Skinner, and a brother J. Emerson Skinner are deceased.

A funeral service will be conducted at the Thomas Funeral Home at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, February 8, officiated by Father William Lawler. Friends will be received at the funeral home on Friday evening from 6 to 8, where a Rosary Service will be held at 7:00 p.m.

Interment will take place in Niles City Cemetery in Niles, Ohio.

Memorial contributions may be made to either St. Mary Refuge of Sinner, P.O. Box 218, Cambridge, MD 21613 or Baywater Animal Rescue, 4930 Bucktown Rd., Cambridge, MD 21613.