Lonnie Branam

Lonnie Branam was born on March 26, 1924 and passed away on June 16, 2015 at the age of 91. Lonnie was born in Bloomington, Indiana and was the seventh child of Lonnie and Pearl Branam. He graduated from Bloomington North High School. He was drafted into the Army Air Corps and served as a belly gunner during World War II while being stationed in England. He received the EAME Service Medal with 2 Bronze Stars, Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart, and Distinguished Flying Cross. After the war, he married the love of his life, Mary Wyre, on September 27, 1945.

Lonnie graduated from Indiana University with a degree in speech and also graduated from Abilene Christian College with a Bible degree. After graduation, Lonnie served a number of churches in Texas as their primary minister. Their first son, John, was born in Indiana and Elaine, Paul and Janet were born in Texas. The family moved to Van Nuys, California in 1972 where he continued his ministry at the Van Nuys Church of Christ. Lonnie preached God's word for over 60 years and affected many peoples' lives. He also enjoyed fishing, gardening, traveling, singing and dominoes.

Lonnie was preceded in death by his brothers, Carl, Pete and Raymond and his sisters, Marie and Geneva. He is survived by his wife Mary, son John and his wife Linda, daughter Elaine Coates, son Paul Branam and his wife Renee and daughter Janet Faragher and her husband Mike; grandchildren Travis Branam and his wife Emily, Nicole Marrs and her husband Jeremy, Amy Coates and her husband Burton, Lindsey Campbell and her husband Vance, Cagney Branam, Emily Branam, and Brent Faragher, and three great-grandchildren, Reid Marrs, Carter Schackmann, and Brynn Marrs.

Lonnie will be forever loved and deeply missed by his wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and friends.