Born in Lund, Nevada, April 14, 1902, he rose to a level of prominence in the field of medicine. He died on July 9, 1996 at a son's home in Sandy, a few weeks after suffering a massive stroke.
A son of Casper Franklin Bryner and Farozine Ellen Redd, his father died when he was two years old and his mother loaded her four children into a covered wagon and traveled to the nearest rail line to move to Raymond, Alberta, Canada where he grew up.Although never serving a mission himself, he quit school in his junior year to support his brother and sister on their missions. He then returned to high school and completed his studies, graduating one month behind his class. When he witnessed the death of his nine year old brother from a minor infection, he decided that his mission in life was to practice medicine.
After moving to Utah in 1926, he completed three years of pre-med in two years while working full time as a florist. The first two years of medical school were completed at the U of U., then a transfer to the University of Pennsylvania where he graduated in 1932.
He married his sweetie, Virginia Castleton, on September 10, 1930 in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. She preceded him in death in 1988. They raised eight children in the family home on Harvard Avenue.
He is survived by four sons, John, Dan, Wally and Mike and three daughters, Carolyn, Rebecca and Bonnie; as well as 25 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren. One son, Jerry, died in 1965.
To list all of his accomplishments would be too monumental, so a partial list will have to suffice: founder of Bryner Clinic; Chief of Staff, LDS Hospital; co-founder and president American Academy of General Practice; president Utah Medical Assoc.; president Salt Lake County Medical Assoc.; secretary/treasurer World Medical Assoc.; plus numerous boards and committees dealing with the ethical practice of medicine. One of the highlights of his life was traveling across the country with his close friend, Sir Alexander Fleming, the discoverer of penicillin.
A lifelong member of the LDS Church, he served in many positions from bishop's counselor to Primary teacher.
Grandpa, we will miss many things about you: your kindness, generosity, compassion, integrity, devotion to your family, church, and profession, your drawers full of Y & S chromed steel "bicuspid breaker" black licorice, squeaking our tummies, sneaking around back of the gas station during family trips so you wouldn't get caught drinking a coke, flower gardens, handkerchiefs on your bald head to protect it from the sun, Blackjack gum in your right front coat pocket, everybody we ever met walking down the street saying you took out their gallbladder, humor, giving the neighborhood kids shots of sterile water when the serum ran low so they wouldn't feel left out, the gorilla mask on Halloween, but most of all we will miss your example of who we are, why we're here, where we're going, and especially what we need to do to be with you and Mom again.
"Skinny McDoogle" and your "Oh Moseseena" epigram will live on in the annals of Bryner folklore forever. Your great-great-grandchildren will be reciting them to their grandchildren to the total bewilderment of the uninitiated.
You will not be with us on earth, but we have the satisfaction of knowing that you will enjoy becoming acquainted with your father, re-acquainted with Mom, Grandma, Jerry and your brothers, and at the very least you'll get re-accustomed to a periodic scolding from Aunt Gwen. We love and appreciate you, Grandpa, we will look forward to being with you again some day. Don't get into trouble your first day there pinching too many of the hosts of heaven.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, July 13, 1996 in the Emigration 21st Ward Chapel, 2nd Ave and "K" Street at 11 a.m. Friends may call from 6-8 p.m. on Friday at Larkin Mortuary, 260 East So. Temple, and again Saturday at the church from 9:30-10:30 a.m. Interment, Salt Lake City Cemetery.
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