Wilburn Ray Brannon

and friend to many was called home peacefully in his sleep on January 29,

2018. Ray was born in Norman, Oklahoma to Joseph and Molly Brannon,

and had three brothers and one sister all preceding Ray's passing. At the

age of 18, Ray enlisted in the United States Coast Guard and honorably

served from 1941-1947, where he was a part of rescue missions at sea.

Ray subsequently enlisted in the United States Air Force from 1947-1961,

and proudly defended our country in World War II, and twice in the Korean

War serving a total of 20 years active duty. He retired from active duty in

1961, and went to work Civil Service at Tinker Air Force Base in Aircrafts

for 20 years before retiring. Ray met the “love of his life”, a stunning British

girl named June Margaret Stead in 1958 at the NCO Military Club in

London, England.June became his wife April 30,1959. They were entirely

devoted to one another and shared 58 devoted years together. Their love

story is endless. Ray and June called Oklahoma home and began their

family and in 1962, Tina was born at Tinker Air Force Base, 13 months

later Julie was born in 1963. Ray coached his girls in softball and followed

their sports activities for 13 years traveling with June, never missing a

single softball, basketball, tennis match or track meet played at home or

out of state.

Coming out of retirement, Ray worked for the nonprofit, Oklahoma Cancer

Care Foundation, which his daughter, Tina founded in 1998. He proudly

transported cancer patients to and from treatments for 10 years, providing

tremendous comfort and friendship to many critically ill cancer patients.

When Ray himself became deathly ill in 2009, and the physicians

suggested he go into an Assisted Living Center, Mom respectfully

disagreed. Ray and June made a promise to each other to care for one

another and to never allow the other to be placed in a nursing home or

assisted living facility. She, along with their family, nursed him back to

health, with June never once leaving his side. Ray slowly got well, and continued to drive June everywhere and bless us all with 10 additional years. Ray brought June a cup of tea in bed each and every morning. Ray is survived by his devoted wife of 59 years, June Brannon; daughters Tina Brannon and Julie Brannon-Gomez and husband Michael Gomez; and grandchildren Alexa and Hunter Gomez. Ray would have been 95 on March 1. 2018 and their 59th Anniversary on April 30, 2018. We are grateful for his undying contribution to our lives, and the lessons he taught us in serving and caring for family and others always. There are no words to express our love and gratitude for our father's influence on our lives.

The family would like to share our deepest gratitude for Entrust Home Care and Oklahoma Hospice Care for their superior care and devotion to our father. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions or donations be sent to Sunny Lane United Methodist Church to continue the family legacy of serving as the Lord’s servants.