Colonel Edward Arthur Branch, USAF, Ret., 86, of Lake Gaston passed away Monday, October 17, 2022, at his home.
Mr. Branch was born on October 26, 1935, in Portsmouth, Virginia, the son of Roy Lee Branch and Dorothy Roberts Griffin Branch.
He graduated from Cradock High School in Portsmouth, VA. He graduated from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, VA with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Commerce.
He joined the U.S. Air Force in 1960 and remained on active duty for eight years and resigned his commission at the rank of Captain.
Mr. Branch received a Master’s Degree from George Washington University off campus and received a Doctorate Degree in Business Administration from George Washington University in Washington, D.C. in 1971.
He worked at Army Security Agency at Arlington Hall, Arlington, VA, Headquarters National Security Agency at Fort Meade, MD, Headquarters U.S. European Command at Patch Barracks in Stuttgart, Germany and Office of Secretary of Defense in the Pentagon as an International Program Analyst.
He attended the Institute for National Strategic Studies, National Defense University at Fort McNair in Washington, D.C. as a Senior Fellow from the Office of Secretary of Defense. He retired from the U.S. Air Force Reserves as a Colonel in 1990 and retired from Office of Secretary of Defense in 1996.
He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Sylvia Morris Branch of Littleton, NC; his stepson, Donald Leonidas Griffin and his wife Sandra of Little Elm, TX; five grandchildren, Stephanie Griffin of Irving, TX, Andrea Vessels and husband Nicholas of Denver, CO, Michelle Griffin of Rockville, MD, Michael Thomas Griffin and wife Elizabeth Sierra of Midlothian, VA and Rachel Shaber and husband Jason of Henrico, VA; and one great-grandchild, Olivia Leigh Shaber. Mr. Branch was also preceded in death by his stepson, Michael Steven Griffin.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 1:00 P.M. Sunday, October 23, 2022, in the chapel of Hockaday Funeral and Cremation Service with Rev. Randy Martin officiating. Burial with full military honors by the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard will follow in Cedarwood Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 11:00 – 12:30 P.M. prior to the service at the funeral home.
Online condolences may be sent to www.hockadayfs.com