GENE BRANSCOME
1933-2018
Gene Branscome, born in Dallas, Texas on July 18, 1933, went to be with the Lord on January 13, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. At 84 years of age he had a long life and lived it to the fullest.
Born to parents Eugene Henry, Sr. and Zelma White Branscome, he grew up in Dallas and graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1950. God gifted him with a beautiful voice and he began singing in church at an early age. He was a graduate of the University of North Texas where he was an operatic baritone, choir soloist, and track star. He was a four year letterman on the track team and holder of the Border Olympics college division discus record in 1953. He was cadet major of the North Texas ROTC and upon graduation was commissioned as an officer in the United State Air Force. It was in the Air Force his love of flying began, as a jet fighter pilot. Following his service he made his home in Baytown, Texas where he began his long and successful business career when he opened Gene’s Hi Fi in 1958. In 1968 he built his first apartment complex in Baytown and from there he continued as a real estate developer all over the country for many years. While residing in Baytown, he was a member of Alliance Bible Church and the Baytown Rotary Club.
Gene loved the outdoors and was an avid sportsman, whether it was golf, skiing, diving, hunting or fishing. Any sport he took up, he excelled in. He hunted and fished all over the world. He lit up a room when he entered and was always the life of the party. He loved God, his family, his friends and his country.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and grandson, Kevin Smith. He is survived by his loving wife of 31 years, Dolly Barker Branscome; daughters and son-in-law, Kathy and Wes Winn and Connie Smith; sons and daughters-in-law, Ken and Michele Brinkley and Gary and Natalie Brinkley; sister and brother-in-law, Sharon and Bob Gardner; brother and sister-in-law, Ken and Darlene Branscome; sisters-in-law and husband Betty and Joe Chandler and Nancy Barker; grandchildren, Randy and Kimberly Hopper, Jeri Leigh and Gert Jensen, Wesley Winn, Blake Smith, Tyler Brinkley, Nicole Brinkley and Ashley Brinkley; great-grandchildren, Sarah, Luke and Jacob Hopper, Piper and Presley Jensen and London Smith; numerous nieces and nephews and many dear friends.
Friends are cordially invited to a reception in celebration of Gene’s life from five o’clock in the afternoon until seven o’clock in the evening, on Thursday, January 25, 2018 in the Salon Room at River Oaks Country Club, 1600 River Oaks Blvd, in Houston. In lieu of flowers and other remembrances, memorial contributions may be graciously made to Baytown Christian Academy, 5555 North Main St, Baytown, Texas 77521