With deep and profound sorrow we announce the passing of Julian K.Brantley, age 95, on March 23, 2015. Born on April 8, 1919 in Shelbyville,Tennessee, the son of Samuel King Jr. and Annie Lee Gunn Brantley. As a young man, he raised award-winning hunting dogs and Tennessee Walking Horses, including Brantley's Julianna. After graduating Central High School in Shelbyville, he attended Milligan College and Middle Tennessee State, where he graduated with a degree in English. He proudly served in the Army Air Corps during World War II. After his initial training, he was made a Crew Chief on the B-24 bomber, expecting a tour in England. Instead, after being "volunteered," he was attached to the newly formed 339th Fighter Squadron of the 13th Army Air Corps, also known as the "Jungle Air Force," where he was advanced to Technical Sergeant and Flight Chief, supervising 14 other mechanics maintaining the amazing P-38 Lightning fighter-bomber. Among many other things, his Squadron is credited for shooting down Japanese Admiral Yamamoto's aircraft, and perhaps thereby shortening the War.
Julian served in the Philippines, New Caledonia and New Guinea, earning 9 Battle Stars. Following the War, Julian settled inClovis, New Mexico, where he became the English teacher at the local junior high school. There he met his bride-to-be, Martha Virginia Cronkrite, the school's art teacher, whom he married in 1946. They had three children, Julian King Jr., Martha Luanne (Morgan) and John Samuel. He was later accorded a scholarship from the state of New Mexico and received a Masters Degree in Social Work from Vanderbilt University. Returning to New Mexico to pursue a career in social work, he became a case worker for the state. It was not unusual for him to have to visit his cases on horseback, high in the mountains of rural New Mexico. In 1956, he accepted a position as a Division Director for the Children's Home Society of Florida in Pensacola, with a focus on child adoption services. In 1958, he joined the Children's Home Society of California and moved the family to Sacramento. Subsequently, he was named Executive Director and Chief Executive of the Children's Home Society of California, which was the largest private child adoption agency in the world. While in this role, Julian served as a legislative advocate, working with the California Legislature on child adoption and child welfare matters. Later, Julian helped direct the state-sponsored Northern Los Angeles County Regional Center, which helps special-needs patients and their families. Even after retiring, Julian remained engaged with the community, serving with the Pantry, helping feed families in need. He was active in the Woodland Hills Methodist Church, where he'd been a member since 1964. While his beloved wife Martha predeceased him in 1991, Julian is survived by his three children, Julian Jr., Luanne and John and their families, and his grandchildren, Julian III, Emily and Laura. He will be sorely missed by all.
In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to the Pantry through the church:
West Valley Food Pantry
5700 Rudnick Avenue
Woodland Hills, CA 91367
(818) 346-5554
FAX: (818) 346-3349
http://www.westvalleyfoodpantry.org/index.html
May God bless and keep you, Julian. Thank you for your caring, your love, your support and for all the
things you taught us. We love you so!
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