William F. “Bill” Bruney, 73, of Martins Ferry, passed away Wednesday, November 4, 2026, at his home surrounded by his family. He was born on December 6, 1952, in Martins Ferry, the son of the late, Arthur J. and Sara Margaret (Jewell) Bruney, Jr.

Bill was a proud graduate of Martins Ferry High School, class of 1970. He and his wife were members of St. Mary Catholic Church in Martins Ferry and a member of the Purple Rider Booster Club. He was an intelligent, savvy football coach who spent his entire career in the background as an assistant, but his knowledge of the game was widely recognized far beyond his alma mater. Bill was a three-year letterman in football, wrestling and track for the Purple Riders, and went on to Ohio University where he played football as a freshman and graduated from there in 1974, and he completed his master’s degree at the University of Dayton in Guidance Counseling. He began what would be a storied 41-year teaching and coaching career at Alliance High School for one season before returning to the Ohio Valley and coaching four years each at Bridgeport and Bellaire High Schools. He then headed north to Steubenville where he spent eleven years on the highly successful Big Red staff before getting the call to return “home” to his hometown where he spent the next twenty-one years on the Martins Ferry High School staff alongside his brother, Dave Bruney, while also serving as a guidance counselor for Martins Ferry High School. Bill’s coaching expertise went beyond the gridiron. He was also an assistant wrestling coach at both Bridgeport and Bellaire, assisted in track and baseball in Steubenville while spending several years coaching his daughters in softball in the Martins Ferry Civics Athletic Association. He was on the coaching staff for the Ohio team for the OVAC All Star Football games in 1999, 2003 and 2011. While coaching at Steubenville High School, he was on the 1984 State Championship team and 1987 and 1988 runner up team. At his Alama mater he was on the coaching staff for the first play-off team in 1989 and the Regional Champions in 2004. He was inducted into the Ohio Valley Football Coaches Association, Assistant Coaches Hall of Fame in 2015, and Martins Ferry Athletic Hall of Fame in 2020. The majority of his time he served as Defensive Coordinator Football coach.

Left to cherish his memory are his loving wife of 48 years, Cynthia (Primovic) Bruney, children, Craig (Michelle) Bruney, Mandy (Brian) Kanzigg, and Amy (Jon) Suttle, grandchildren, Liam, Alex, and Isabelle Bruney, Jeremiah, Isaiah and Makiyah Kanzigg, Joseph and Charlette Suttle, siblings, Dave (Cheryl) Bruney, Karla (Lenny) Vinci, and many nieces and nephews.

Family and friends are invited to celebrate his life and legacy during visitation on Thursday, November 12th, from 2-8 at the Wilson Funeral Home – Heslop Chapel, 415 Walnut St., Martins Ferry, OH 43935. Funeral Liturgy with Mass will be celebrated Friday, November 13th at 11 am at St. Mary Catholic Church, 20 N. 4th St., Martins Ferry, Ohio 43935, officiated by Fr. Thomas Marut. Burial will take place at Linwood Cemetery in Blaine at the convenience of the family.

The family request that memorial donations can be made in memory of Bill Bruney to the following originations, Martins Ferry City School District, Venmo (memo: Bill Bruney) @Martins- Ferry-Purple-Riders. Or send a check to Martins Ferry City School District, 5001 Ayers Limestone Road, Martins Ferry, OH 43935, (in memo: Athletic Fund).

Amedisys Hospice, 52171 National Rd. E, Suite 1, St. Clairsville, OH 43950

St. Mary Catholic Church, 20 N. 4th St., Martins Ferry, OH 43935.

To leave online condolences please visit www.wilsonfuneralhomes.com.