Richard Branson

Richard Russell Branson, age 87, of Coopertown, Tennessee, (formerly of St. Louis, MO and Marion, IL) passed away on Thursday, August 1, 2019 at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee. Funeral services will be held at Austin & Bell Funeral Home in Pleasant View, Tennessee on Sunday, August 4th, at 4:00 p.m. with his nephew William Alfred Cooper, Jr. “B.J” officiating. Burial will be on Tuesday, August 6th, at 11:00 a.m. at Middle Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery, 7931 McCrory Lane, Nashville, TN. 37221. Serving as pallbearers will be Danny Goodman, Harold Uhls, Buddy Cooper, Dylan Uhls, Trey Branson, Chase Goodman, Reid Branson, and Blue Goodman. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Sunday, August 4th from 2:00 p.m. until the hour of service at 4:00 p.m. Richard accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Savior in February, 1973. He endeavored to follow Him closely in every aspect of his life. He happily served his local congregation in teaching, music, and wherever he was needed. Most recently, during his illness, he called the Jimmy Swaggart Ministries his church family. Richard loved his lifeGodand his family. He loved all things outdoors; flower gardening, golf, fishing, Purple Martins, and neighbors stopping by. He fell in love with St. Louis Blues hockey during their inaugural season in 1967. He was a huge fan of the St. Louis Cardinals and any sport involving his family. He enjoyed food- all types of food- especially anything his wife made for him. He volunteered at the Lighthouse Homeless Shelter in Marion, IL. Richard was born on March 7, 1932, in St. Louis, Missouri, to the late Charles W. and Josephine Meegan Branson. He graduated from Normandy High School in 1950 and went to work immediately at Emerson Electric. He was drafted in the Army, serving from January 24, 1952 to January 7, 1954. He trained in Enlisted Intelligence and served as a photo interpreter in the Korean War. After being discharged he returned to Emerson Electric. After working on batteries there, he joined the Elmer H. Boyer Association (which later became Branson Industrial Products) and sold all types of batteries, including switch gear and control, UPS, mining, diesel starting, fork truck, and other industrial products. He retired from Reaco Battery Company in Johnson City, IL in March 1999. He was blessed with a 20-year retirement. During his retirement, his favorite question was “What do you want to do today?” Richard married Jennifer Cooper on August 4, 1973 and had a blessed marriage and family. They would have been married for 46 years on August 4, 2019. His funeral is on their wedding anniversary and will celebrate his life. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by three brothers, and four sisters. He is survived by his wife, Jennifer Branson, son, Richard Russell Branson, Jr. (wife, Courtney), daughters, Dana Uhls (husband, Harold), and Rachel Goodman; one brother, and one sister, grandchildren: Marisa Uhls (fianc, Joshua Myers), Dylan Uhls, Chase Goodman, Blue Goodman, Richard Russell Branson, III “Trey”, Reid Branson, and Hattie Branson. If so desired, memorial contributions may be made to Jimmy Swaggart Ministries, 8919 World Ministry Ave., Baton Rouge, LA 70810. AUSTIN & BELL FUNERAL HOME in Pleasant View, 6316 Highway 41A, Pleasant View, Tennessee 37146 (615) 746-4433 www.austinandbell.com Cemetery Middle TN Veteran Cemetery McCrory Lane Nashville TN 37221 US Visitation Sunday, August 4, 2019 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM Austin & Bell Funeral Home, Pleasant View 6316 Hwy 41A Pleasant View TN 37146 US 615-746-4433 615-746-0847 Funeral Service Sunday, August 4, 2019 4:00 PM - Austin & Bell Funeral Home, Pleasant View 6316 Hwy 41A Pleasant View TN 37146 US 615-746-4433 615-746-0847 Funeral HomeAustin & Bell Funeral Home, Pleasant View 6316 Hwy 41A Pleasant View TN - 37146 US 615-746-4433 615-746-0847

Richard Branson

March 7, 1932 - August 1, 2019