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George A. Brandon
Longtime Davis resident and composer George A. Brandon, 76, died in his sleep in March 30, 2000, following a brief illness.
He was born on Feb. 4, 1924, in Stockton, to Horace D. and Georgia C. (Pound) Brandon. He grew up in Stockton and earned a bachelor’s degree in history at the College of the Pacific, now University of the Pacific, in 1945. He went on to earn a master’s degree in sacred music in 1952 and a master’s degree in religious education in 1957 at Union Theological Seminary in New York City.
While at Union, he met Dona Lee Banzett, whom he marriage in 1954.
In the late 1950s the Brandons taught at Eureka College in Eureka, Ill., and then at William Penn College in Oskaloosa, Iowa, where their only child, Barbara Anne, was born.
The family relocated to Davis in 1962. In the late 1960s Brandon held positions at several Davis churches, including Lutheran Church of the Incarnation, Davis Community Church and St. Martin’s Episcopal Church.
His contributions to music at St. Martin’s Church continued well beyond his employ there. He was instrumental in designing the church’s Schlicker pipe organ, installed in 1982, and his compositions were often performed by the various choirs at St. Martin’s, and by his wife, Dona, who was the organist and choir director there for 27 years.
In 1994, he was commissioned by St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Sacramento to write the “St. Paul’s Suite, ” an organ work based on the last chorus of Camille Saint-Saens’ “Christmas Oratorio, ” for a concert that celebrated the 80th anniversary of the installation of that church’s pipe organ.
He was a freelance composer, with more than 300 published compositions which include hymn-tunes and texts, choir responses, anthems, secular choruses and organ and piano pieces.
His hobbies included family history and regional history. In addition, he researched and wrote about many aspect of church music and related fields, especially early American hymnody, a passion that continued up until his death.
He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Dona Lee Brandon of Davis; his daughter, Barbara Anne Brandon Severin of Fairbanks, Alaska; and his sister and her husband, Sue and Otto Zimmermann of Modesto and their family.
Plans are pending for a memorial service at a later date.
Memorial donations may be sent to the Yolo County office of the Red Cross, Davis Community Meals, STEAC or CommuniCare Health Centers.
George Brandon
A memorial service for George Brandon, longtime Davis resident and composer, has been scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, 640 Hawthorn Lane, Davis.
Brandon, 76, died at home on March 30, 2000, after a short illness.
He was active in the 1960s as a church musician in several Davis churches and continued to influence church music in the area through his compositions and in other ways.
He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Dona Brandon of Davis; daughter, Barbara Anne Brandon Severin of Fairbanks, Alaska; and his sister and her husband, Sue and Otto Zimmermann of Modesto and their family.
Contributions in his memory may be sent to the Yolo County Office of the Red Cross, 120 Court St., Woodland, CA 95695; Davis Community Meals, P.O. Box 72463, Davis, CA 95617; CommuniCare Health Centers, P.O. Box 1260, Davis, CA 95617; or STEAC, P.O. Box 1047, Davis, CA 95617.
BRANDT
Harry Brandt
Harry Brandt died Jan. 28, 2006. He was 80 years old.
A memorial service begins at 2 p.m. Friday at Davis Community Church, 412 C St., with a reception immediately following the service. A private scattering of ashes will be held at a later time.
Born in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, on Nov. 14, 1925, he began his engineering career in the marine engineering program, the only engineering program available in Holland at the time that was not under German control. During World War II, he went into hiding for a couple of years.
In 1946, he emigrated to the United States. He entered the engineering program at UC Berkeley, where he received his bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees in mechanical engineering.
He marriage Muriel Ruth Harman on Jan. 24, 1953, in Berkeley. Later, he moved to Southern California with his wife where he worked for 10 years at Chevron Research Co. in La Habra. There he worked to develop the latest in oil field equipment and exploration technology. He successfully developed and patented numerous technical advances.
In 1964, he became a professor in the department of mechanical and aeronautical engineering at UC Davis. During his tenure at UC Davis, he served in various teaching, research and leadership capacities that included chairmanship of the department from 1969 to 1974 and in 1985 to 1991.
He retired from the university in 2001 after almost 40 years of service, but continued to guide and mentor students in their academic pursuits at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Livermore. He was also chairman of the board at Clean Energy Systems from 1997 to 2005. He was a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, American Welding Society, Sigma Xi and Tau Beta Pi.
He also engaged in several community activities throughout his life that included being chair of the El Macero Service Advisory Committee that helped instigate the El Macero County Service Area. He also served on the board of the El Macero Improvement Association.
In his personal life, he had a love of figure skating and gymnastics. He also enjoyed the outdoors, including bike riding and hiking in the mountains. In this capacity, he served as a volunteer at the visitors center at the Sawtooth National Recreational Area near Sun Valley, Idaho, and provided information on hiking trails in the area. He also served on the Ridge Homeowners Board in Sun Valley, Idaho.
His family described him as a dynamic individual who seemed to touch everyone he met.
He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Muriel Brandt; his daughter and son-in-law, Joyce and Craig Copelan of Winters; a daughter, Dr. Marilyn Brandt of Stewartsville, N.J.; and a son, Robert Brandt of Santa Clara.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, University Covenant Church, Davis Community Church or Yolo Hospice.
BRANNER
Ophelia E. Branner
Ophelia Branner died peacefully Sept. 27, 2004. She was 90.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Thompson Hall Jordan Pretty Funeral Home, 918 S. Main St., Middletown, Ohio, 45044.
A native of Middletown, Ohio, and graduate of Middletown High School Class of 1933, she moved to West Carrollton, Ohio, in 1941, followed by Dayton, Ohio, in 1955.
She moved to Davis in 1981 after her husband, George Kirk Branner, died.
She was an employee of Wright Patterson Air Force Base for approximately 29 years, where she excelled in her capacity as transportation officer. She was the recipient of several prestigious awards, including the 1965 Performance of Duties Award and the Department of The Air Force Certificate of Service.
An accomplished musician, she excelled in voice, piano and organ. She performed her first solo at the age of 4 before parishioners in church. She studied voice for many years, performing works of Verdi and others in recitals. She was also a representative of The Dayton Association of Musicians.
She joined the Davis Community Church upon moving to town in 1981, serving as an elder in the church and an active participant in the Presbyterian Women’s Group. She was president of Church Women United of Yolo County 1985-1986 and was pianist for Cornerstone Baptist Church in Davis.
She touched many lives and will be greatly missed, her family said.
She is survived by her son Dr. George R. Branner, his wife Martha E. Branner, and their sons George Kirk, Kent Theodore and Kraig Norbert; granddaughters -in-law Rose A., Christy and Elaine; great grandsons George Kirk IV, Mark Richard; and step-great-granddaughters Timiza Rivera and Tasia Rivera.
She is also survived by her nephew, Lawnie Taylor, his wife and children, Delores Green, Shirley Phillips, Teri Hollins, Keith Taylor, Paige Leverett, Liza Taylor, Sara Taylor and Lawnie Taylor Jr.; nieces Mary Ann Reid, Dorothy Jean Coleman, Marylin, Gwen Bradbury, Madeleine Watson; and nephews Frazier Moore, Avery Watson Jr. and Branner Mark Watson and their offspring.
She is further survived by Doris Mooney, as longtime family support/member who was very important to her life.
BRANNON
Jessie Brannon
Jessie Brannon died while residing at Albuquerque Manor Nursing Home, Albuquerque, N.M., Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2002, at age 79.
Born March 28, 1923, in Muskogee, Okla., Ms. Brannon moved to Woodland in 1930 from Oklahoma. She attended schools in Knights Landing. She also attended Woodland High School. She worked as a waitress in Woodland, Las Vegas and Reno, Nev. She also resided in Oregon.
Ms. Brannon is survived by her daughters, Sharon Noah of Las Vegas and Michelle Goodman of New Mexico; son, Mark McComb of Florida; brothers, Warren Brannon and wife Faye of Woodland and Glen Brannon of Sacramento; and nieces and nephews of Woodland.
She was preceded in death by her parents, C. Elsworth and Bessie Mae (Jackson) Brannon; and six sisters and brothers.
A burial is scheduled at 11:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 11, at Woodland Cemetery.
BRANNAN
Warren Brannan
Warren Brannan died at Kaiser Permanente Hospital, Sacramento Monday, April 14, 2003, at age 82.
Born Jan. 30, 1921, in Fort Gibson, Okla., Mr. Brannan had been a Yolo County resident for 75 years. He settled along the Sacramento River, at Knights Landing and then moved to Woodland in 1930s. He was a World War II veteran with the Army Air Forces serving with the 315th Bomb Squadron, 20th Air Force in Guam and Saipan and then in England. After returning to Woodland he worked as a police officer for Woodland and then at UC Davis Campus Police. He was a member of Knights Landing Sportsman Club for 40 years.
Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Naomi Faye (Mast) Brannan; sons, Thomas Brannan of Tempe, Ariz. and James Brannan of Santa Clara; and four grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son, Roy Warren Brannan.
The family requests memorials be directed to American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 2680, Canton, Ohio 44720; or the Knights Landing Sportsman Lodge, Knights Landing 95645. Arrangements are under the direction of Kraft Bros. Funeral Directors of Woodland.
Services: Visitation is scheduled from 2 to 5 p.m. Friday, April 18, 2003, at Kraft Bros. Chapel, 175 Second St., Woodland. A graveside service is scheduled at 10 a.m. Monday, April 21, 2003, at Woodland Cemetery, with a burial to follow. A celebration of his life will be at 11 a.m. Monday, April 21, at St. John’s United Church of Christ, 432 Cleveland St., Woodland, with The Rev. Derrill Peabody officiating.
BRANSCOMBE
Lee Branscombe
Lee Branscombe died Wednesday, Jan. 12 in Carmichael at age 67.
Mr. Branscombe was born Oct. 27, 1937 in Sacramento. He worked for Spreckles Sugar for 15 years then later as a social worker for Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Sacramento. He also worked part-time for the Sacramento Children Receiving Home. He was a member and past president of the Woodland Lions club.
Survivors include Mr. Branscombe’s brother, Richard A. Branscombe of Escalon and his nieces, Dawn Machado and Tina Maranda.
The family requests memorials in Mr. Branscombe’s name be directed to the American Diabetes Association, 1524 McHenry Ave., Modesto, 95350 or to the American Heart Association, 1710 Gilbreth Road, Burlingame, 94010.
Services: Respecting the wishes of Mr. Branscombe, services will be private. Deegan Funeral Chapel of Escalon is assisting the family with arrangements.
