Dorothy Eunice Bruton was born on 6th July 1890 in England.
The last record I can find of her in the UK is in the 1911 census.
However, during the course of the processing of a relatives will/probate, way back in 1963, she was contacted at an address in Bucharest - 21 Strada Teodor Aman, Rai Feb.16, Bucharest, Romania.
At that time her name was Dorothy Eunice Popescu. I would imagine that she either lived there, or it was the office of someone who was acting for her.
I do know that there is no record of her marrying at the Anglican Cathedral in Bucharest.
I realise that 1963 is a long time ago and that it's unlikely that I can find anything - but what I am looking for is any information about Dorothy, for example how she came to be in Romania - perhaps as a nurse during WW1 or WW2? I have been told that I would have to apply in person (which is not an easy option) at the records offices in Bucharest for (for example) police files, as, at the time, she was a foreigner.
So, for any information or suggestions on how to proceed, I would be very grateful.
Hello and welcome to the Genealogica forum!
On 8 February 1932, Dorothy Eunice Popescu filed for divorce from her husband Jean Popescu on the grounds of insults and cruelty.
They had two children: Valter aged 14, and Gladys aged 12.
They had no prenup and no wealth.
Source: the official gazette no. 31 / 6 Feb. 1932
https://adt.arcanum.com/en/view/MonitorulOficial_1932_02_Part2/?query=Dorothy+Eunice+Popescu&pg=178&layout=s
Welcome to our community.
If its the same person she might have passed away in December 1969 and been incinerated.
Screenshot_20250824-181254.png
It looks like Gladys Viviane Popescu became an actress nicknamed Vivette. According to an article published in 1937, she was 17 then. Given the rarity of the name Gladys in Romania, and the age match, it is very likely the same person:
vivette 1.jpg
source: https://adt.arcanum.com/en/view/Rampa_1937_07/?pg=105&layout=s
She appears regularly in newspapers of the time:
vivette B.jpg
https://adt.arcanum.com/en/view/Rampa_1937_07/?pg=86&layout=s
GLadys Vivette 2.jpg
https://adt.arcanum.com/en/view/Semnalul_1939_10/?pg=8&layout=s
pietricele.jpg
https://adt.arcanum.com/en/view/GazetaCotidianDeSeara_1937_09-10/?pg=144&layout=s
Until c. 1942, when she is involved in the theft of a fur from dr. Stanca. The fur was stolen by her concubine, Cezar Menciu:
vivette furt 1.jpg
https://adt.arcanum.com/en/view/TimpulBukarest_1942_04/?pg=130&layout=s
vivette furt 1.jpg
https://adt.arcanum.com/en/view/TimpulBukarest_1942_03/?pg=144&layout=s
vivette 3.jpg
https://adt.arcanum.com/en/view/Viata_1942_04/?pg=113&layout=s
vivette furt C.jpg
https://adt.arcanum.com/en/view/Curentul_1942_04/?query=vivette+popescu&pg=125&layout=s
vivette furt d.jpg
https://adt.arcanum.com/en/view/Curentul_1942_03/?query=vivette+popescu&pg=120&layout=s
In 1946 she appears again in the news as an actress:
vivette 1946.jpg
https://adt.arcanum.com/en/view/CotidianulDeAmiaza_1946-2/?query=vivette+popescu&pg=159&layout=s
In 1947 she appears as Vivette-Popescu Grațianu, with a film contract in Syria:
https://adt.arcanum.com/en/view/UltimaOra_1947-06/?pg=17&layout=s
She has an imdb page :)
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8567715/
Searching for "Bruton" on the portal of the National Archives of Romania (https://descopera.arhivelenationale.ro/) gives only one result, the birth of Walter Ioan Bruton Popescu (https://descopera.arhivelenationale.ro/cota/?cid=12301723), born in Iași on the 25th of September 1917. (Please open the file with the name ending in 3.pdf and look at page 43.) It is worth noting that at that stage of the war, many people otherwise living in the southern parts of Romania had taken refuge in Iași, so the fact that he was born there does not necessarily mean he had any family ties to Iași.
His mother is Eunice Popescu née Bruton, aged 27, so this must surely be the person you are looking for, as Walter's year of birth also fits his age in
@stratocaster's post.
Interestingly, there is a note on the margin saying that Walter's parents married in Bucharest in 1922.
Walter was married twice, to Maria Emilia Belu from 1942 till 1943 and then to Domina Ianoș in 1947.
Attached the birth record of Walter/Valter, the eldest son.
Walter Bruton Popescu1917.pdf
Here is also Walter's obituary found on Arcanum (https://adt.arcanum.com/ro/view/RomaniaLibera_1984_08/?query=Domina+20N+Popescu+20N+Gladys&pg=51&layout=s) in the newspaper România Liberă of the 10th of August 1984. It says:
CitatDOMINA wife, Gladys sister and the whole family announce the sudden death of engineer Popescu Walter. Cremation 10 August 15 o'clock.
Whereas Popescu is a very common surname in Romania, Walter is a rare name, while Domina and Gladys are practically unheard of.
By the way, during the communist period, there was only one crematorium in Romania, Crematoriul Cenușa (https://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crematoriul_Cenu%C8%99a) in Bucharest.
Solid detective work guys 8) ! Now, if Roger returns, he's in for a surprise!