William Brooks Branstetter

Wednesday, February 23, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. at the Waters Funeral Chapel, 500 S. Main Street in Vandalia, Missouri 63382.
Officiating will be: Rev. Lloyd Pelfrey, Professor and Past President of Central Christian College of the Bible in Moberly, Missouri.
Music provided by: Barbara Elzea - pianist; Kevin Morris - soloist.
Interment will be in the Kilby Cemetery.
Pallbearers: Jordan Branstetter, Joseph Walter, Brett Turner, David Franke, Al Wortman, Charles Bartison and Wayne Lynn.

William Brooks Branstetter passed away at 8:53 p.m. on Saturday, February 19, 2011 at the Tri-County Care Center in Vandalia, Missouri. Brooks grew up and attended schools in the New Harmony area. He has lived in Vandalia since 1948, moving here from Bowling Green, Missouri. Brooks was a long-time member of the First Christian Church in Vandalia where he was an elder and had taught Sunday school. After school, Brooks started working at Harbison Walker Refractories in Vandalia. He felt the call to serve his country during World War II and joined the U. S. Army Air Corp. Brooks served in the Pacific Theatre with an aviation engineer battalion building landing strips for Allied planes. Upon leaving the military, he returned to his job at the refractories and retired in 1983 after 43 years of service. Brooks also was a brick mason, laying brick for fireplaces, flues, houses and other buildings in the area. He had been a member of the Sportsman's Lake fishing group and enjoyed attending the 1913th Engineer Aviation Battalion reunions across the country. Brooks was an avid fisherman, loved to travel and spend time with his grandchildren.

Born: April 13, 1918 in rural Curryville, Missouri the son of William Henry and Bernice (Jenkins) Branstetter.

Married: Ella Dee Hayden on May 11, 1943 in St. Louis; she preceded him in death on October 30, 1997.

Survivors include: three daughters: Pamela D. and husband, John Turner of Mexico, Missouri; Myrna A. and husband, Stan Franke of Novelty, Missouri and Jannette L. and husband, Joe Walter of Hays, Kansas; one son, Boyce B. and wife, Barb Branstetter of Vandalia; five brothers: Richard and wife, Jean Branstetter of Jefferson City, Missouri; Dave Branstetter of Bowling Green; Randall Branstetter of Fairview Heights, Illinois; Jack Branstetter of Bowling Green; Jim and wife, Carol Branstetter of Ironton, Missouri. Survived by 13 grandchildren: Lance, Michael and Brett Turner, David Franke, Amy Bacon, Christa Harland, Alicia Bacon, Joseph and Jenny Walter, Meredith Jacyna, Megan Teague, Courtney Ragland and Jordan Branstetter; also survived by 22 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Preceded in death by: parents; wife, Ella Dee; one brother, Bob Branstetter; three sisters: Julia Eccles, Sue Knox and Maureen Reed.

Memorials are encouraged to the First Christian Church in Vandalia or the American Diabetes Association.