William Howard Branch

09/28/1924-12/31/2017

Bill was born from humble parents Hurley “HB” Branch and Ruth Jewell Clifford in LaGrange, Kentucky. During the Depression, the family moved to Louisville along with his older sister, Doris Eileen. As he grew up, he wanted to achieve greater opportunity for his future and attempt more financial, educational and personal success. Upon completion of high school in 1942 at All Male High, he was selected by government lottery and enlisted into the Navy after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. He served on the Pacific islands of Saipan, Guam and Tinian cleaning and preparing weapons for combat as a Navy Aviation Ordnanceman. Being a part of WWII was a great honor for Bill. In 1946, he received Honorable Discharge from the Navy as well as the Victory Medal, American Area Campaign Medal, Asiatic Pacific Area Campaign Medal, and Good Conduct Medal.

Under the GI Bill, he went to the University of Louisville in Kentucky and earned a Bachelors of Science in Electrical Engineering. He began working at Douglas Aircraft Company and worked on designing the DC-3 and DC 6,7 commercial aircraft. At the White Sands Proving Grounds in New Mexico; he spent time first as a field engineer developing the Nike series of anti-aircraft and anti-missile missiles. Bill later became field station manager for over 300 Douglas employees engaged in advanced missile research. While at White Sands, he earned a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from New Mexico State University. He then returned to Santa Monica, and later Huntington Beach, working almost 40 years, and eventually becoming Director of Advanced Technology at McDonnell Douglas. His developments there included vehicle ultra-fast control systems (external burning), UpStage (a 400g maneuvering anti-missile missile) and the Mast Mounted Sight (for helicopters and naval frigates).

His colleagues recall how Bill was adept at forming top-performing teams of experts who quickly became life long friends. The team members say they were dazzled by the way Bill handled the customer while keeping the project team motivated and the program sold, both internally and externally. He became known as the “Old Silver Tongue” and his way with words and people flowed into his passion for his local community as well.

Upon retiring from McDonnell Douglas, Bill actively served Pacific Palisades with gusto: He readily served as Treasurer and Concessions Manager of the Will Rogers State Park Cooperative Association and Mediator for the Los Angeles City Attorney. As Master of his Masonic Lodge, he carried out his vision of setting a Time Capsule in the Cornerstone when the new Palisades Library was built. Bill was elected Master twice of the Riviera Masonic Lodge. He earned the prestigious Hiram Award, demonstrating devotion to the Lodge over and above the ordinary. He spent most of his time connected with the American Legion- as Vice-Commander and Commander of the American Legion Post 283 where he saw many initiatives take root- including the Sons of the American Legion. He was later elected California’s Commander of District 24 which oversaw 13 American Legion posts, and Department Vice-Commander for Area 6 , the elected Commander of the American Legion Los Angeles County Council. He later served as Chaplain for Post 283 as well. In the latter part of these years he served as Financial Secretary for the Community United Methodist Church and a Member of their Board of Trustees.

Family was his utmost priority throughout life. He visited his Kentucky family while on leave from the Navy, he accomplished annual road trips and strategized occasional stops in Florida during business trips to see his parents and growing children, he mentored his 10 grandchildren in the ways they should go. He was proud of the ground he covered in his travels to: Japan, Korea, Israel, the Holy Land, Egypt, Europe, India, and China just to name a few. He began traveling with each grandchild to a foreign destination of their choice- he took the Ellzey boys to England and the Ellzey Girls to Prague. He planned to take each grandchild on a trip before too long.

Bill had a stunning way of making everyone in a room feel inspired- you realized quickly that you wanted to be in listening range so you could glean his wit and wisdom. He’d advise you on ways to organize your thoughts in a speech or help you resolve and move towards your next goals in life. He would keep a positive spin on the discussion- highlighting the benefits in a situation, while always conveying how blessed and grateful he was for his family, his success, and his long life.

Bill is survived by his wife, Nancy, and his children: daughters Lynn Branch and Lise Branch, son Bill with wife Lisa Branch and granddaughter Catherine, as well as daughter Amy with husband Max Ellzey and children Charlton, William, Bradford, Joy, Faith and Grace, and daughter AnneMarie with husband Brian Winic and children Breanne, Bailey and Benjamin. Bill left a legacy of service, leadership, and inspiration to all those he had the pleasure of meeting and getting to know.

May each of us have a “Bill Branch” in our lives.

In lieu of flowers, the family ask that donations can be sent to:

1. American Legion - www.legion.org

2. Palisades News - www.palisadesnews.com

3. Community United Methodist Church of Pacific Palisades -

www.palisadesmethodist.org