Robert Joe Branham

Born in Indianapolis on April 23, 1937 to Joseph William and Grace Althea Branham, Bob attended Indianapolis Public School #43 and then Shortridge High School, being graduated in 1955. While at Shortridge, Bob excelled in varsity baseball as catcher when Shortridge won the 1954 City Championship, and in also in basketball and football, the last two sports which he played during all four years. His athletic skills won him a letter in varsity football, even as a sophomore. Bob was on the 1954-55 Sectional basketball team, only losing to the ultimate state champion in a double overtime sudden-death game. His skills and talents were many as he even provided a bit of poetry during his high school days.

Following high school, Bob first attended Butler University and then Devry Technical Institute, (now Devry University), and subsequently became self-employed for many years as owner of Branham Appliance Services in Indianapolis, before slowing into retirement in or about 2020.

Bob was first wed to high school sweetheart and Shortridge graduate, Janet Lee Snively, for 33 years. Following Janet's death in 1990, Bob was joined in marriage with 1955 Shortridge classmate Marilyn Sue (Susie) O'Connor Conger.

At one time, Susie described their union as a three-boat family, and Bob likely would have selected bass fishing in lakes, rivers and reservoirs, often with Susie, at the top of his list of past-times, with golf, flower gardening, and of course some adult basketball and softball trailing not far behind. Bob also coached youth football for ten years, and relished watching Susie's grandchildren play sports. From his days working with appliances, he also had a fondness for designing specialized electrical circuits, and in retirement settled back as a devoted armchair quarterback, watching and critiquing sports of all kinds and enjoying lunches with his many friends to rehash sports and fishing.

First spending eight weeks in Florida during winter months, Bob and Susie would then retreat to their cottage on Lake Webster in northeast Indiana during summer months, while maintaining contact and visiting former classmates as they traveled about on vacations.

The Covid years took a toll on both, as Susie was quarantined in the healthcare facility where she was living and receiving therapy, but Bob was unable to visit her there for many months. He finally moved into the same facility with assisted living and after a time, joined Susie in the rehabilitation section where they resided together until passing.

Bob was founder and Past President of Indiana Appliance Technicians Association, Past President of Indianapolis Bass Masters Fishing Club, and a life-long member of Masonic Lodge Keystone 251,Bob was preceded in death by his father in 1963, and by his mother in 1999. He was then sadly preceded in death by his dear Susie who, after 36 years of wedlock, passed only ten days before him on September 12, 2026. He is survived however by some 36 years of lasting memories by Susie’s three children, seven grandchildren and eight great grandchildren and by those many others, both young and old, who had the extremely good fortune to know him.

Bob also leaves us with his oft-spoken lesson on life, quoting the Roman poet, Martialis: Tomorrow I will live, the fool does say. Today is itself too late; the wise lived yesterday.

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