James David Brandon

James was born in Bowling Green, KY, on January 9, 1926, to the late H.A. and Kate Brandon.

He was preceded in death in 2001 by his wife of 48 years, Virginia Hamblen Brandon, to whom he devoted his life for her well-being and care in her later years. He worked for the Neuhoff Packing Company after moving to Nashville in 1950, then retired from the Ford Glass Plant after a career there (1957-91) as a quality control analyst/manufacturing test engineer.

A child of educators who enrolled him in school at soon as he turned six, he graduated in 1943 from Bowling Green High School. As first chair trumpet player, he gained his nickname of “Pete” from his high school band teacher who, at one point, could not recall his name (his own family called him “Jimbo”). He also learned to play piano as a child and, as an adult, was known to surreptitiously practice Chopin at home. Among his favorite childhood memories was spending time with his dad, including playing golf, a pastime he enjoyed for the rest of his life.

After high school, he studied at Western Kentucky State Teachers College before enlisting in the U.S. Army Air Forces in 1944. After completing advanced training as a control tower operator at Scott Field, Ill., he deployed to the Philippines in 1945-46 and was honorably discharged as a sergeant upon his return home. He enrolled at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, studied dairy husbandry, was a member of Phi Kappa Phi fraternity, and took up riding a motorcycle to commute to school (a hobby he resumed later in life with friends from his church). After his father died in 1949, he eventually moved to Nashville where he met Virginia Claire Hamblen; they married in 1952. She, her family, and their friends in Nashville knew him as “Dave” because that is how he was introduced to her.

Mr. Brandon was a lifelong member of the Church of Christ, growing up in the 12th Street (now the Lost River) congregation in Bowling Green where his father once served as an elder. From 1962, he and his wife attended and raised their children as members of the Parkwood (now Northside) congregation in Nashville, where he occasionally substituted as an adult class teacher and assisted in the benevolence ministry. He was also a 60-year member of the Jere Baxter Edgefield Lodge #254 Free and Accepted Masons.

He is survived by sons James F. (Kay) Brandon and granddaughter Brandie, and Robert H. (Kathy) Brandon and granddaughters Audrey and Lydia.

He was also preceded in death by his sister Marian Phillips, her husband Raymond, and his nephew Edward and is survived by his nephew David (Marty) and their families. He is also survived by his sisters-in-law Dorothy Hamblen, Anita Hamblen, and Sara Hamblen and their families.

Funeral Service will be Saturday, Feb. 3 at 11am, officiated by Bro. Les Chapman and Bro. Stan Cunningham of the Northside Church of Christ, Nashville. Family will receive friends Friday, Feb. 2 from 4-8pm and one hour before the service on Saturday at Forest Lawn Funeral Home.