Obituary of Gleason Aubrey Branch

Gleason Aubrey “Bud” Branch Bud went to be with Jesus on Saturday, March 12, 2015, just 2 days short of his 90th birthday. Bud was a gentle, humble, intelligent man of quiet strength and great faith. He inspired those around him by his encouragement, example and wisdom. One became a better person by just being with him. There is a quote often attributed to St. Francis of Assisi which goes “Preach the Gospel at all times and, if necessary, use words.” That quote describes Bud pretty well. He loved Jesus, his wife, his children, their spouses, his grandchildren, his great-grandchildren, his large extended family and everyone he came in contact with. He also loved horses and wild places like Yosemite. He always wanted a cattle ranch that looked like the Ponderosa Ranch in Bonanza but never found the right one. One of his nieces remembers him as a horse whisperer and commented that he had the same effect on people. Bud was also a true patriot, graduating as an engineer from the US Navy’s V12 program at the University of California Berkeley and serving as an ensign in the US Navy. He continued to serve his country as an engineer in the defense industry after his discharge. He loved his work. Bud was preceded in death by his beloved wife Dovie Algerine “Rene” Cochran Branch his parents (Claude and Dortha Branch) and his two sisters and his brother (Barbara Crocker, Bernice Oliver and Duwaine Branch). He is survived by his three daughters (Karen Fulscher, Joan Hampson and Claudia Shick), seven grandchildren (Elizabeth Kilian, Jennifer, John and Bryan Hampson, Daniel and Peter Weitzel, and Elizabeth Shick) and nine great-grandchildren (Brooklyne, Matteo, Noah, Andre’, Simcha, Mal’akhi, Solomon and Benjamin Weitzel and Brendan Hampson)