Lynn Elwood Branan and
Barbara Ann Armstrong Branan
Barbara: November 17, 1938 — January 2, 2021
Barbara and Lynn always supported their local church. In lieu of flowers and if interested, please make a donation in their name to your place of worship. Or please donate to the Steve Abbe Legacy Fund at Crossroads Fellowship Church that supports many opportunities in and around the Waco area at https://xroads.churchcenter.com/giving
Lynn was born November 24, 1934 in Houston, Texas to James Iverson Branan and Ester Louise Butler Branan. He died on January 1, 2021 in Waco, Texas. Barbara was born November 17, 1938 in Houston, Texas to Thomas Carlton Armstrong and Dora Blanche Fletcher Armstrong. She died on January 2, 2021 in Waco, Texas.
Lynn grew up in West University Place on Tennyson, graduating from Lamar High School. After high school, he attended the University of Houston studying Chemical Engineering. Barbara grew up in West U too on Albans, just a few miles apart. She also graduated from Lamar High School. She attended Sam Houston State for a short time after high school. They both attended West University Baptist Church. They were introduced by a mutual friend while Barbara was still in high school. Their friend lived behind Lynn and took Barbara to visit Lynn while he was sick. They fell in love and Lynn asked Barbara for her hand in marriage. Her parents insisted she go to college. Barbara finished the fall semester and came home. The couple got married on January 27, 1957 at West University Baptist Church.
Their early marriage was busy with both working and Lynn attending night school. They bought a Phillips 66 filling station and ran the station for a short time. On August 29, 1958 Richard Lynn was born. Their lives changed immediately. The economic times were difficult, and Lynn recognized he needed a steady reliable income. With the help of his uncle, Lynn secured a lab tech job at a new steel mill in Rosenberg, Texas. He worked for Gulf States Tube for the next 40 years. When they moved to Brooks Ave in Rosenberg, Barbara was expecting their second child. Cynthia Ann was born on November 4, 1960. They began attending First Baptist Church Rosenberg, getting involved as teachers and leaders. Their kids grew up in the small-town atmosphere of Rosenberg. Then a surprise introduced herself on June 24, 1972 – Melissa Kay had arrived. They watched their kids involved in baseball, volleyball, and gymnastics. Band concerts and choir musicals along with Friday cheerleading kept them busy. The family enjoyed camping trips in their Starcraft tent camper, traveling throughout Texas and the surrounding states. The church was an important part of their routine. Lynn became an ordained deacon and Barbara was a Children’s Sunday School teacher for years.
As their children left home, Lynn became the manager of Gulf States Tube. He also served on the Rosenberg Park Board and with the Rosenberg-Richmond Chamber of Commerce. During his time with the Chamber, he worked with the Economic Development Council and helped create the infrastructure for future growth. Barbara worked in several preschool programs, eventually taking over the Mother’s Day out program at FBC Rosenberg. Barbara fed her love of history by working as a docent with the Fort Bend County Museum. She loved helping with Christmas at the Moore Home.
With the birth of their first grandchild, traveling became an important past time. They made countless trips to Fort Worth, Maryland, Waco, Austin, and Needville. When Lynn retired from Gulf States Tube, they attended soccer games, football games, swim meets, softball tournaments and other events of their grandkids. They loved taking little side trips too.
After many years in Rosenberg, Lynn and Barbara moved to their dream home in College Station. They quickly involved themselves in a new church, Christian Women’s Club, and volunteering. They invited college students into their home for Bible studies, Lynn leading and Barbara hosting. Barbara loved any and all holidays and together they decorated their home. Family get-togethers were in their home. The house was full of people, food, games, and noise. They loved it. They celebrated their 50th and 60th anniversaries in College Station. As their health declined, they moved into a retirement community in Waco. At the Delaney, they again became involved in their community.
After Barbara was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, she moved into the memory care unit. Lynn visited her daily and supported her and helped where he could. In the last months of their lives, they suffered some medical setbacks. On January 1, late in the evening, Lynn passed away, less than eight hours later, Barbara followed.
Their faith in Christ never waned and their love and devotion to each other never stopped. They loved their kids, watching each make a decision to follow Christ. They supported their marriages, doted on their grandkids and fawned over great-grandchildren. The family is grateful to the staff at the Delaney and St. Anthony’s for their care for Lynn and Barbara.
Their legacy is their family and the people that passed in and out of their lives. They loved each one with the love of Christ and prayed for and encouraged many, many people. They loved the local church and supported them with their time and their money.
They were preceded in death by their parents and Lynn’s brother Don. They are survived by Rick and Toni Branan and their son Christopher; Cyndi and Steve Abbe and their girls, Emily and her husband Daniel, with Troy, Teague, and Harper and Erin and her husband Austin with Jacks and Leighton; and Melissa and her husband Ryan Perry and their girls, Layne and Kate as well as Lynn’s sisters Jenny and her husband Leonard Tompkins and Peggy and her husband Rick Kuenstle and Barbara’s brother Tom Armstrong and her sister Kathy and her husband William Hutton. They also loved all of their cousins, nieces, nephews, and dear friends.
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