Anneita grew up between Kokomo and California, spending her early years in Los Angeles and Bakersfield as well as her hometown. She attended Los Angeles City High School, and even as a teenager she showed a steady, willing spirit—working at the root beer stand at a movie theater and learning early the value of showing up for others with quiet consistency. It was the root beer stand where she met the love of her life, Charles, and they later married on May 2, 1956, in Arizona.
Over the course of her working life, Anneita was known for the kind of gentle perseverance that turns daily effort into a lasting legacy. She retired from Syndicate sales after more than 30 years as a press operator. Before that, she worked cleaning houses and doing laundry, and she also worked with a fire damage restoration company, helping clean homes that had previously burned—work that required patience, care, and a loyal commitment to doing what needed to be done.
Above all else, Anneita was devoted to her family. She loved her family more than anything in this world and cherished every opportunity to spend time with them, offering a steady presence and a love that was deeply felt and faithfully given.
In her quieter moments, Anneita found joy in simple, meaningful pleasures. She liked to plant flowers and write poetry. She enjoyed summer vacations in Florida, going to Disney World with her family and grandkids, and she once traveled to the Holy Land. She also delighted in time spent playing Bingo, bowling, and gathering for games of euchre, rummy, and 10,000 (the dice game). A loyal fan, she enjoyed watching the Cubs play.
Anneita lived in Kokomo, Indiana. She will be laid to rest at Crown Point Cemetery , 1101 E. Sycamore St. , Kokomo.
She is survived by her children, Debbie Branch (John Johnson), Misty Atkinson (Jeff Atkinson), and Dennis Branch; her grandchildren, Priscilla Golden, Angelina Johnson, Leah Matlock, Sydnie Banner, Kourtnie Shuck, Shawn Atkinson, Emma Atkinson, Hayley Atkinson, Mark Branch, Jennifer Tharp, and Rachel Nikoloff; and 28 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles F. Branch; her parents, Paul Francis and Esther Frances; brothers, Billy Francis and Melvin Francis; her sister, Marlene Fulk; and her grandchild, Brittni Johnson.
There will be a visitation for Anneita on Thursday, July 23, 2026, from 4pm until 7pm, at Sunset Memory Garden Funeral Home, 2097 W. Alto Rd. Kokomo; her funeral service will follow the next morning, Friday, July 24, 2026, at 10am, at the same location. She will be buried immediately following the funeral service at Crown Point Cemetery, 1101 E. Sycamore St., Kokomo.
