Thomas Walter Branch Sr.

Thomas Walter Branch went home to be with the Lord on September 10, 2020. Tom was born May 27, 1933 in Galveston, TX to Walter Egland and Myrtle Marie Autry Branch. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Stella Dawkins (Bill).

Tom is survived by his loving wife of 43 years, Lynn Smelley Branch, son, Thomas Walter Branch Jr. (Kathy), step-daughters, Donna Besong (Larry) and Barbara Vickers, grandson, Dr. Brian Besong (Amy), granddaughters, Kristen Besong (John Reyna) and Kaylie Branch, great grandchildren, Korbin Benton, Kallie Benton, Edith Besong, Case Reyna and Isidore Besong, brothers-in-law, David Smelley (Dorothy) and Dr. Jim Smelley, nephews Steve and Jim Smelley (Janice), nieces, Kim Kremer and Laura Visage (Tony), nephews, Mike, Joseph, John, James, Steve, and Bill Dawkins, and nieces Mary Dawkins and Rose Dawkins Krueger.

Tom was a loving and generous man, He loved his family and dear friends and would give whatever

they needed. He made friends easily and especially showed kindness to those in service positions. He made sure that they were well compensated.

Tom graduated from Ball High School in Galveston, TX in 1951. As a young man he loved baseball and tennis and was gifted at both. He attended Texas Christian University on a baseball scholarship, but after an injury he returned home to recover. He continued his love of baseball by coaching Tom Jr in little league.

His career as a stationary engineer, begin at Rohm and Haas and Oxirane Chemical companies. Then he started work at Rice University Power plant where he retired in 1995.

In his free time he enjoyed fishing, dousing and treasure hunting as well as traveling and spending time with family and friends. He enjoyed the beach and on the morning of his passing, he expressed that he had been thinking of the beach and he wanted to go there.

Tom was a fun loving man who liked to laugh and liked to make others laugh. He never met a stranger. He had a mischievous twinkle in his eyes even to the end of his life.