Ben PeePaw Brantly

William Roy Brantly (birth name), Ben (nickname), was born May 6th, 1922 near Dubberly, LA to his late parents Eunice & Penn Leary Brantly. Ben and his late (2010) wife Jan, lived in Baytown since 1991.

When required to say his name at the Social Security office, he said, ""Ben Brantly."" They said he had to have more of a name than that, so he said, ""Benjamin Brantly."" Being pursued for a 'middle' name Ben said the first thing that came to his mind, ""Franklin."" 'Benjamin Franklin Brantly' was officially recognized by the Bureau of Statistics in 1966. Over time, his grandchildren began to call him 'PeePaw' (several spelling renditions, pronounced the same). Ben's friends and coworkers would often call him, 'Mr. B' or 'Mr. Ben'.

Ben retired from Armco Steel in Houston as a supervisory foreman serving 27 yrs. Ben was involved in many church/civic activities wherever he lived or working in his (or someone else's) yard as time permitted.

From 10/17/40 to 12/02/46, Ben was on active duty in the U.S. Marine Corp. Having gone to his local recruiting office in Monroe, LA to sign up for the Navy, he was told that the Navy recruiting office was in Shreveport, LA but he could sign up for the Marines right then if desired. Ben thought 'Marines' had something to do with 'submarines', so he signed up. From basic training in San Diego, CA, he realized 'once a Marine…always a Marine' as he went to Iceland, into WWII against the Japanese in the South Pacific (Guadalcanal), back to CA, off to NC, and then to Maine where he was to 'overcome' issues from malaria contracted overseas. Later in 1952 he signed up again for the 'Active Marine Corp Reserves' and served as a Marine Corp Sergeant until 1956 when he earned another Honorable Discharge serving his country.

Survivors in Mr. Brantly's lineage are his daughter Bridget Goodman and her husband Marvin; Faye Brantly, wife of his late (2010) son Darrell Brantly; Grandchildren and Great-grandchildren by family: Carrie and Morgan Cameron; Melanie, Harry, Kathryn, Austin, Callie, and A.J. Smith; and Benjamin Scott Brantly and wife Becca.

Services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 1, 2013 at Navarre Funeral Home in Baytown, with the Goodmans officiating.

Arrangements are under the direction of Navarre Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 2444 Rollingbrook Drive, Baytown, Texas 77521, (281) 422-8111.