Ralph A. Branstetter

Ralph A. Branstetter, age 102, of Tulsa, OK  passed away at 7:55 AM  Saturday, September 12, 2020, at Parke Assisted Living Center in Tulsa, OK.  
 
Graveside services with full military honors will be held at 3:30 pm Tuesday, September 22, 2020 at Vandalia Cemetery. Pastor Jamie Franke will officiate.
 
The family is being served by the Waters Funeral Home of Vandalia, MO.

Ralph was born on December 11, 1917, in Curryville, MO the son of William H. and Minnie (Reed) Branstetter.
 
He was united in marriage to Dorothy D. Jackson on February 9, 1946 in Kansas City, MO.  She preceded him in death on January 25, 2008.  
 
Survivors include a son, Randy Branstetter and wife Sandy of Tulsa, OK and granddaughter, Megan Gardner of (Littleton, Colorado) and great granddaughter Evelyn Gardner.
 
Mr. Branstetter was preceded in death by his parents and wife.
 
Ralph honorably served his country in the Army Air Corpe during World War II. He retired from the Federal Aviation Administration as an Air Traffic Control Specialist, with 30 years of service. During WWII he served in the Army Air Force from 1941 - 1945. During European Theater of Operations, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and two Air Medals.
 
Ralph loved fishing, hunting, gardening, tennis, and instilled the love of outdoors to his son, Randy, who then passed it onto his daughter, Megan, and they are now passing that onto granddaughter, Evelyn. His legacy will continue to live on.
 
Ralph, Dorothy and Randy took many trips, usually pulling a pop-up camper. Yellowstone was a personal favorite. They were able to visit every state in the contiguous United States, and Hawaii.
 
Ralph had a strong Christian faith and was a member of First Christian Church in Vandalia before moving to Tulsa to be close to family. He loved meeting his brother, Lester, and friends for coffee at the Vandalia Drug store.
 
In his later years, he was remarkable; gardening, doing lawn work, driving to meet friends for coffee at McDonald's, member of Jenks Seniors and always willing to go on adventures, or ride in a parade at 102. He lived at The Parke Assisted Living and was much loved by the staff and Encompass Home Health, who enabled him to have a very good quality of life until he passed.
 
Ralph was a member of  First Christian Church in Vandalia and a member of River Oaks Christian Church in Jenks, OK.
 
Online condolences may be made to the family on Ralph's memorial page at www.watersfuneral.com Or Email to: randybranstetter@cox.net