Visitation: 11 a.m.-12:45 today at the funeral home.Ĭharles J. D’Anjolell Memorial Home, 2811 West Chester Pike, Broomall.
Survivors: Wife, Joanne Branson daughters, Kathleen Schaffer, Bernadette Lawler and Joanne Comero, all of Springfield, and Christine Kassigkeit of Chicago brother, Raymond Branson four grandchildren one great-grandchild. Upon retiring in 1986, he became a consultant to the industry, serving until 1992. Branson accepted a promotion as operations manager at British Petroleum’s Marcus Hook refinery, managing over half the refining operation. By 1968, he was promoted to operations manager at the Standard Oil of Ohio (Sohio) facility, responsible for two-thirds of the entire 300-acre refinery. Branson built a 2,000-square-foot ranch-style house, sub-contracting only the electrical portion. In the late 50s, while working rotating weekly shifts, Mr. He began his career in the oil-refining business in 1950 in Lima, cleaning the inside of the massive cylindrical storage tanks. He then became a flight instructor at the Lima, Ohio, regional airport. Branson toured the Midwest as a featured stunt pilot in the Steerman bi-plane, a crowd-pleasing airplane in the “barnstorming” tradition. Branson continued in the Air Force Reserve for 25 years, attaining the rank of major.įollowing his honorable discharge, Mr. He became pilot-rated in the Steerman bi-plane, the AT-6 “Texan,” the B-17 “Flying Fortress,” and the B-29 on the third mission to Japan after the Enola Gay. Branson attended Drake University as part of the pilot training curriculum, studying physics, math and chemistry.
Lettering in basketball and baseball all four years of high school, he later became a golf enthusiast.Įnlisting in the Army Air Corps in 1942, Mr. As a featured baritone, he sang semi-professionally for many years. In school, he excelled in the annual Welsh Eisteddfod singing competitions. Branson gradated from Gomer High School in Ohio. 16 at Springfield Hospital after suffering a stroke.īorn in Indianapolis, Mr. Branson, 84,Īir Force pilot Retired BP operations managerīenjamin A. Ridge Pike Suite A-100, Conshohocken, PA 19428-1190.Ĭondolences: May be sent to Benjamin A. Sunday at the funeral home.ĭonations: The American Heart Association, 625 W.