The Reverend Monsignor George John Brubaker
November 6, 1947 - September 7, 2026
The Reverend Monsignor George John Brubaker, age 78, of Ventnor, New Jersey, passed away on Monday, September 7, 2026.
Born in Ventor on November 6, 1947, he was the son of the late Amos and Katherine (Mitton) Brubaker. Monsignor received his early education at Christ Our King School, Wilmington, Del. He began studies for the priesthood at St. Charles College High School, Catonsville, Md. He attended college at Duquesne University and studied at Villanova University Law School. After completion of theological studies at St. Mary’s Seminary and University, Baltimore, MD, he was ordained a priest on May 28, 1980, at St. Paul Church, Wilmington.
Monsignor was first assigned associate pastor to the Church of the Good Shepherd, Perryville, Md. In 1982, he was transferred as associate pastor to St. John the Baptist, Newark, Del. While there, he began serving in the diocesan tribunal and was appointed to studies in canon law at the Catholic University of America in 1989.
Upon reception of his licentiate degree in canon law in 1991, Monsignor returned to tribunal ministry in the Diocese of Wilmington and, in 1992, became the diocesan director of the Catholic Relief Services. In 1997, he became the Director of Church Affairs at the national offices of Catholic Relief Services, in Baltimore.
In 1999, Monsignor returned to the diocese and was named pastor of St. John the Apostle parish, Milford, Del. In addition to this role, he was appointed diocesan Judicial Vicar in 2001, a position he would hold until 2015. In 2010, Pope Benedict XVI named him a Chaplain to His Holiness with the title of Monsignor. In 2012, he was transferred to pastor of Our Lady of Fatima parish, New Castle, Del. In 2014, he was additionally appointed pastor of St. Paul, Delaware City, Del. He retired in 2023.
Beginning in 1985, Monsignor served as an Air Force Chaplain with the Delaware National Guard. During his military service, Monsignor was deployed as a chaplain to numerous areas of conflict, including Kosovo, Desert Storm, Kyrgyzstan, with significant time supporting patients at Ramstein U.S. Air Force Base. He retired from the Guard in 2012 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
In addition to his parents, Monsignor Brubaker was predeceased by his aunt and uncle Mildred and Woodrow Wetzel. He is survived by his sisters Katherine Brubaker Davies and Theresa Brubaker Ullman of Philadelphia, as well as their families: Benjamin and Suzanne Ullman and their children Alexandra and Jacob of Charleston, Jesse Ullman of Ventnor, NJ, Christina and Matthew Milligan and their children Tyler and Zachary of Cincinnati; Adam and Maria Davies of Baltimore; his cousin Patricia and John Schinzing and their family of Lancaster; and Theresa’s brother-in-law Reverend Richard Ullman of Philadelphia.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, September 14, 2026, at 12 noon at the Cathedral of Saint Peter, 6th & West Streets, Wilmington, Del. 19801, with visitation beginning at 10:30 a.m. Burial will follow the Mass in All Saints Cemetery, 6001 Kirkwood Highway, Wilmington, Del. 19808.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Priest Education Fund of the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington, 1925 Delaware Avenue, Wilmington, DE 19806.
Dorothy Stiles
My deepest sympathies on the passing of Monsignor George Brubaker are with his family, friends and loved ones. He was blessed with the gift of faith and lived his life in the service of others. He will be missed by many.
Barbara Clark
Bob and I send our condolences.
Anastasia
In loving memory of Reverend Monsignor George John Brubaker. May God grant him eternal rest, and may Perpetual Light shine upon him.
MG James A. Benson
September 9, 2026
Dear Brubaker Family,
Along with your entire Delaware National Guard family, I want to convey our condolences and extend our sincere sympathy on the passing of Chaplain Brubaker.
Mere words, although compassionate and gentle, cannot lessen your loss, but we pray that the heartfelt expression of our sentiments will ease your sorrow and emphasize that we, in your Guard family, understand and care. We trust that all your lovely memories will bring you comfort.
If there is any way that I, or the Delaware National Guard, can be of assistance, please let us know. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this time of sorrow.
Sincerely,
James A. Benson
Major General
The Adjutant General, Delaware
Nicole
My God take you in his loving arms. Monsignor was the priest who helped my on my spiritual journey. Thank you Lord Jesus for placing the Monsignor in my life. I can only pray I see him in my final journey home.
Tina Ramsey
Our deepest sympathies for Monsignor Brubaker’s family. We had the pleasure of knowing him during his time at Our Lady of Fatima. Both our son and I were fortunate to have been able to serve with him during Mass for many years. You always learned something during his homilies. We always loved talking about the shore with him! He will be missed. The Ramsey Family
BarbaraGott
Very very sad to hear Msgr. has passed He was a wonderful priest We were very blessed to have him at OLOF ! He is now at Peace !
Mary Welch
Dear Kathy and Terry,
Please accept my deepest sympathy at the passing of your dear brother, George. I have great memories of him at COK and happy summers at Haynes Park. Know I will keep him and the repose of his soul and your family in my prayers. Love and blessings,
Mary Welch
Lillian Kindig
I rememer Monsignor Brubaker’s excellent homilies when he was at St. John’s in Milford and St. Bernadette’s in Harrington. May he rest in peace
Michelle Porta
My husband and I had the blessing and pleasure of meeting Monsignor Brubaker when he was at St John/Holy Angels parish in 1987. We learned so much from him about life, our faith and what it truly means to be Catholic. He was truly a people’s priest. So kind and caring. I am certain St. Peter was waiting at the gate to take Monsignor George to the open arms of our Lord.
Yours in Christ,
Michelle & Robert Porta
Linda Gioffre
Dear Terry, So sorry to learn of your brother’s passing. Prayers for you and your family at this sad time.
Linda Donlon Gioffre
MSgt (ret) Bob Stone
I worked with Msgr George in the Air Guard. He was a good man and a great priest. He was at my wedding as a witnesss. I had two priests and a Rabbi. I’m sad that he passed, but Jesus was his friend. He lived like he was walking with Jesus. Rest in Peace Msgr.
John Groch
I am so sad to learn of my seminary classmate’s passing. I came to know George well during our seminary days. One fond memory I have is his help with props for a production of Mousetrap. After the show, he gave me his father’s painting which had been offered for use in the play. May he rest in God’s eternal peace.
Michael Nardozzi, Sr.
I knew George at C.O.K. Many years playing in “The Yard”. Another “Kinger” gone home to Our Lord. May he Rest In Peace and May Perpetual Light Shine Upon Him. MDN C.O.K. 1960
Terry Brubaker Ullman
I am so grateful for all the caring messages from family and friends.
Having such a brother for 77 years was a huge gifts in my life.
As always,
T.
Dee Rivard
In loving memory of God’s good and faithful servant Reverend Monsignor George John Brubaker I pray that the families of his sisters Katherine Brubaker Davies and Theresa Brubaker Ullman know that the parishioners of St. John the Apostle, Milford, DE and St. Bernadettes, Harrington, DE never forgot him and lift up prayers of condolence. We loved his homilies and true concern for everyone he ministered to. My children loved seeing him at church and in religious education classes especially when he arrived on his motorcycle. May perpetual light shine upon him and may he rest in eternal peace.
John Flaherty
Dear Family and Friends of Father George Brubaker,
Please accept my deepest condolences on the passing of Father George Brubaker.
Father Brubaker was a dedicated shepherd whose warmth, wisdom, and unwavering commitment to his faith touched countless lives throughout our community.
You are in my thoughts and prayers during this time of sorrow.
With sympathy,
John D. Flaherty
Donna Anderson
September 12, 2026
My deepest condolences go out to the family, personal and church, of The Reverend Monsignor George John Brubaker.
I also want to send a personal condolence as he was the priest that performed my husband and my wedding on April 7, 1984.
He also did my two sons’ baptisms, one in 1987 and one in 1989. After he did my son’s baptism in 1989 he had to leave to join the military.
I remember when he came back to the states, he was appointed to St. John’s in Milford, Delaware where we got to see him again.
Thank you VERY much for what you did for Doug and I and family.
Rest in peace.
patricia Battaglia
Father George,
You will be missed by one and all. It was a pleasure to have you as a priest and friend at COK, You will surely be missed.
PAUL PROBUS
HE IS THE PERSONIFICATION OF JESUS
FOR ME AND MY WIFE. GOD BLESS YOU.
Veronica Haesler
I am saddened by the passing of Monsignor Brubaker. He was a dedicated priest. He heard my 1st confession after I returned to the church after 35 years. I send my heartfelt condolences to all of his family and friends and will always remember him . May he rest in the peace of the lord’s glory as his faithful servant.
Antoinette Hebert
I had the privilege to work with Monsignor Brubaker at St. Paul’s Church in Delaware City. He was a blessing in my life.
Eternal rest grant to him O Lord and may perpetual light shine upon him.
Sonyia K Brake
Dear Kathy and Terry,
Jim & I are so sad to hear that George had passed away.
I remember perfectly the day you walked into our grade school classroom, Kathy, coming from another school in another state. Y’all fit right in even after school had started.
Your father was a great artist who did so many things for the Church.
We followed George after he became a priest and he has been in our prayers since we first heard he was sick.
One time when we were at a conference at Our Lady of Fatima, your brother was taking a group around the church and we saw the familiar beautiful grand marble statue of Christ on His throne as King and I was happy he was able to get it this treasure for his church, Our Lady of Fatima, when COK closed.
I just want to let you know that we will be praying for you as we know what it is like to lose a sibling. It is hard. I also need to mention that I am so grateful to have known you both and your brother and parents. We belonged to a
Church, COK, from which great families came and such good memories, too.
May God continue to bless you and your families and may the Reverend Msgr George John Brubaker RIP.
With ❤️
Jim & Sonyia
fr joe mc mahon
Georges service as crs director transfomed the the job! May he have the reward of his labors!
Melissa Samworth
George —
I am sad to watch you go. Whenever I saw you at family gatherings I felt such pure intentions and kindness from you. I can feel it right now, just thinking about you. I am sorry this world is so impermanent, and we all pass and say goodbye. And yet, I believe you know, that at the same time, this is okay. How god intended, you could say. I love you.
Nancy A. Martin
I am so sorry I didn’t realize Monsignor Brubaker had passed away & missed his service. I will be sure to stop by and say some prayers at my next visit to All Saints. I only knew him from his time at Our Lady of Fatima; I always appreciated what he had to say, and learned something every single sermon. My brother, who served in the Delaware National Guard knew and liked Monsignor Brubaker. How fortunate we have been to have such an accomplished and genuinely kind priest at our parish. One life touches so many others in unforeseen ways!
Nicole Daniels
St. Johns
Milford Delaware
Leyanna, MCCarraher, friends and family