Chester W. Branch

Chester W. Branch, 88, of White Hall passed away Thursday, July 10, 2014. He was born May 6, 1926 in Sulphur Springs (Jefferson County) to the late Charlie and Bertie Elizabeth Taylor Branch. Chester attended school at Sulphur Springs, Watson Chapel, and Pines Vo-tech. He was a past charter member of Canaan Missionary Baptist Church and was at the present time a member of Oakland Heights Missionary Baptist Church. Mr. Branch served over 20 years as a fireman for the Pine Bluff Fire Department and 25 years with Varco-Pruden. He began working with the Arkansas Forestry Service, Wafford Cabinet Company, and with Zimmerman Flying Service where he became a pilot and really enjoyed flying. He also worked for Cranford Funeral Home of White Hall for many years. Mr. Branch was a United States Army veteran serving in the Philippines and Korea. He is preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Alvin, Charles Edward, and James Donald Branch. He is survived by his wife, Jimmie Maxine Camp Branch, whom he married Oct. 12, 1950; daughter, Karen Robinson of White Hall; sons, Derryl (D.J.) Branch of Bandera, Texas, and Kyle (Lee Ann) Branch of White Hall; grandchildren, Matthew and Kylee Ann Branch; sisters, Mildred Lawson of Pine Bluff and Catherine Louise Lawson of Star City. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in the chapel of Cranford Funeral Home of White Hall with Reverends Roger Kelley and Rusty Womble. Visitation will be from 3-5 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Oakland Heights Missionary Baptist Church, building fund, 9620 Highway 270, White Hall, Ark. 71602. Burial will be in Branch Cemetery (Lee Springs Road) by Cranford Funeral Home of White Hall (www.cranfordfh.com).