Albert Brander

Albert Brander, age 84, died December 5, 2014, to spend the rest of eternity with our Lord Jesus Christ. He was born 31 March 1930 in Oak Park, Illinois. He graduated from Chicago Christian High School in January 1948 and was a member of Warren Park Christian Reformed church in Cicero until joining the military in June 1948.

Al is preceded in death by his sister, Anjean Johanna Parker who went to be with our Lord in 2009 and daughter, Julie Anne in 1991. He is survived by: son, Randall Lee and wife, Julie (Welch) Brander; son, Sam Henry and wife, Patricia with children, James, Elizabeth and Naomi Joy; daughter, Alice Rose and husband, Eric Jason Colbert with children, Caitlin Elizabeth, Sarah Marie, and Daxon Jace; and Son, Eric Nikolas and wife, Lori with children Dalton Albert and Darcy Marie; Grandchildren, Ginger and husband, Milt Ramirez with children, Sabrina and Taylor; Kenneth, Paul and Heather with children, Breanna and Roman. He is also survived by his brother Richard and his wife, Doris Brander.

Al enlisted in the US Air force in summer 1948 with basic training at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, Texas. He attended electrician school that winter at Ft. F E Warren in Cheyenne Wyoming. After a few weeks at Goodfellow AFB in San Angelo, Texas, he spent about 3 years at Ellington AFB near Houston, Texas.

In October 1951, Al was assigned to Upper Heyford Air Base near Banbury, England for 3 years. He was promoted through the ranks to Technical Sergeant (E-6), and was accepted for Officer Candidate School, for which he returned to Lackland AFB in October 1954 to begin class in March 1955. He became a 2nd Lieutenant on graduation in September 1955.

Before retiring from the Air Force as a Major on 31 December 1969, Al attended Personnel Officer School at Scott AFB Illinois. He served in the Strategic Air Command at Fairchild AFB Spokane Washington 1956 to 1960. Then he was assigned to the USAF in Europe as a Jupiter missile operations officer from 1960 to 1963 at Gioia del Colle Air Base in southern Italy. He returned to McGuire AFB New Jersey as the missile and explosives safety officer with the BOMARC missile unit until 1966. He also served in that capacity at Cam Ranh Bay Air Base Vietnam for a year. His final military assignment was a missile and explosives safety instructor at Lowry AFB Denver Colorado.

Al then graduated summa cum laude from Metropolitan State College Denver Colorado while working part time with Security Life Insurance Company, and retained that job full time until relocating to San Antonio, Texas in July 1975. He retired after 20 years working with mainframe and desktop computers for Government Personnel Mutual Life Insurance Company.

Al was a member of and did volunteer work for Fellowship Bible Church in San Antonio since 1989. He volunteered with accounting work at Impact Ministries which was established by Pastor Mark Smith to provide missionary support and to bring fresh water to villages in Africa and Central America. Al also attended Community Bible Church weekly for the Saturday evening services since 2009, praising God with son Randy, and his wife Julie who are members there.

Viewing will be at Porter Loring on McCullough on Tuesday, December 9, 2014 from 7:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. There will be a 9:15 a.m. Graveside Service on Wednesday, December 10, 2014 at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery with Military Honors. Memorial Service Wednesday, 11:00 a.m. at Fellowship Bible Church, 8603 Huebner Rd. 78240.