BURLESON — Capt. Bruno Mussetto died peacefully on Sunday, Dec. 8, 2013, with his daughter, Teresa, and granddaughter, Hannah Rose, at his bedside.Service: 10 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2013 at St. Ann’s Catholic Church of Burleson. Interment: 1:30 p.m. Wedensday, Dec. 18, 2013 in Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery. Visitation: 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2013 with rosary to follow at 7:30 p.m. at Mayfield Kiser Funeral Home.Bruno was born on July 3, 1926, in Brownton, W.Va., to Joseph Mussetto and Rosa Martinelli Mussetto and had a very happy childhood. He loved camping, swimming and fishing with his two older brothers, Johnny and Elo. He also raised a menagerie of pets, both wild and domestic. He spent much of his boyhood in the Boy Scouts, adopting their principles of duty, honor, ethical behavior, leadership, and perseverance. By the time he graduated high school, he had earned the rank of Eagle Scout.Upon graduating in 1946 from Swarthmore College, which he attended as a Navy seaman apprentice, Bruno was awarded a B.S. in mechanical engineering. He then followed his brothers into military service, becoming a commissioned officer in the United States Navy. He later earned further graduate and postgraduate degrees in advanced electrical engineering and in administration from the Naval Postgraduate School, the George Washington University, and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. He also served a tour of duty as an academic administrator with the Naval Postgraduate School.During his long and distinguished Navy career, Captain Mussetto served many years of arduous sea duty while our nation endured World War II, the Cold War, the Korean War, the Lebanon Crisis, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the Vietnam War. Bruno exemplified military leadership “with the nicest sense of personal honor,” commanding both the USS Carter Hall, LSD-3 and the USS Mountrail, LPA-213. The great esteem of his ships’ crews for him was reflected in the exceptional reenlistment rate of crew members under his leadership. His military honors, awards and warfare accomplishments include the Legion of Merit with Combat “V,” the Combat Action Ribbon, the Navy Unit Commendation, the American Defense Service Medal, and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with Star.Bruno greatly loved his family. In 1948, he married the love of his life, Verni May Ellison. They were devoted to each other for 64 years. Bruno was always proud of Verni’s achievements as a mentor to younger Navy wives. They later co-founded the “Patriotic Creed” scholarship, awarded to students who demonstrate qualities of academic excellence and exemplary American patriotism.Throughout his life, Bruno treated all persons with consideration and good humor. He delighted his family as an accomplished artist, storyteller, outdoorsman and craftsman. He hand-crafted (with Verni) heirloom wood furniture for his two daughters and composed special songs for his beloved granddaughter. He also consistently and generously gave his time to help friends and acquaintances achieve their goals.After Bruno retired from the Navy in 1977, he and Verni traveled in a motor home throughout the United States for a year before settling in Burleson. They also maintained a year-round second home (which Bruno designed) in West Virginia on the scenic Elk River.Captain Mussetto possessed all the traits that the United States Navy expects of its leaders. He was a man of absolute integrity with a strong sense of personal honor. He was dedicated to his wife, daughters and granddaughter, to the Navy, to the United States of America, and to God. For those he loved and who loved him, he always made bad things good, and good things better. His family and the many other friends and acquaintances whose lives he touched with his loving kindness, competence, leadership, strength, generosity and affection will greatly miss and always remember him. Additional Memorial Masses: 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, 2013 at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Chapel, Fort Worth; 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2013 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Grass Valley; 12:00 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2013 at Holy Family Of Nazareth Parish, Vernon.