Charla Backlund Brunton – Musical director, Sunday school teacher

Charla Backlund Brunton, age 94 years, passed away peacefully in
Petaluma on Feb. 18. She was the loving wife of the late Fred D.
Brunton, Jr., devoted mother of Angela Brunton of Petaluma, Lyndy
Stevens and her husband Stan of Santa Rosa and Fred Brunton and his
wife Michelle of Windsor. She was the adoring grandmother to Rachel
Stevens Kennedy and her husband Mike, Rosie Stevens, and Tyler
Lewis Brunton. She is survived by numerous nieces and nephews. A
military wife and homemaker, she was born in Plainview, Neb., the
youngest of four daughters, and grew up in Lisbon, N.D. where she
married her high school sweetheart. She taught school in North
Dakota where she had eight grades in one schoolroom. Her father
owned the local newspaper, &#8220The Ransom County Gazette,”
and she was always interested in journalism and in being a writer.
In 1956 the Brunton family moved to Petaluma. She directed the
choir in The First Presbyterian Church in Petaluma and later was
the church organist and choir director in the United Church of
Christ for many years. She finished her organist duties at the
Christian Science Church in Sonoma at the age of 82. She was very
involved in Christian education, teaching Sunday school, and
writing both educational materials and musical items that were
published. Her musical gifts were not limited to church music; she
was also the musical director of a variety of musicals produced by
the little theatre group of the adult education classes in
Petaluma. Charla was a watercolor artist and was a member of the
Art Guild in Sonoma for many years as well as a member of the Gem
and Mineral Society. She built two dollhouses and created all the
accessories out of minerals and gemstones for her granddaughters.
The family would like to thank Dr. James Leoni for his loving care
of their mother. Charla has requested a cremation and scattering at
sea. Donations may be made to Hospice of Petaluma, 416 Payran St.,
Petaluma, Cal. 94952 or the American Heart Association, 1400 N.
Dutton Ave., Santa Rosa, CA 95402 or your favorite charity.