Bill Branham died on Monday, November 21, 2022, after a short illness, two months short of his 100th birthday. A memorial service will be held on Friday, December 9, at 2:00pm, at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2000 Oakwood Drive in Medford and all are welcome.

The Lions Club was a great part of Bill Branham’s life for 65 years and he was one of the longest-serving members. At 99 years of age, Bill still attended almost all meetings of the Rogue Valley Lions Club, as an enthusiastic participant.  “I wouldn’t miss it if I can get there,” he would say.

Life often didn’t go as planned.  When Bill Branham was a young man in Southern California, World War II interfered in his plans.  Born in Pasadena in 1923, Bill had grown up in the area.  His parents had done various things to make a living, his mother running a cafe in Tujunga as cook, both picking fruit in Watsonville, and his father working for Standard Oil in Signal Hill or as an electrician in some of the Pasadena mansions.  They were a typical working-class family, working to keep food on the table.

Bill attended Wilson High School in Long Beach and was in his second year at Long Beach City College working toward his dream of becoming a Park Ranger.  But in 1942 the war intervened, and Bill enlisted in the Army Air Corps.  His older brother had been lost in a B-17 bomber that crashed over Bremen, Germany. But his brother had warned Bill, “Choose not Europe, little brother.  Go to the Pacific.”

Bellows Field in Hawaii became Bill’s base after qualifying as a Pilot.  He was assigned to the Transport Division, and flew a C-47, the main freight plane for much of the war.  He carried troops, goods, and supplies all over the South Pacific, and never had a serious accident. When the war ended in August 1945, he came home to join the Air Force Reserve and worked as a Public Information Officer until 1965 and attained the rank of Major.

Bill edited the school paper in High School, and helped in the print shop, so he had a strong interest in journalism. An advisor suggested he should “Go to the North West, buy a small paper and run a print shop.”  He did run a print shop, but not a paper.  After being partner in a print shop in Bellflower, California for nine years, he eventually moved to Medford, Oregon and bought the Acorn Press, which he ran for almost 20 years.

Marrying in 1946, his wife Margaret and Bill had 2 children, Linda and Vicki…and 5 grandchildren, Jeff, Jana, David, Douglas and Andrea, and 3 great-grandchildren. His hobbies included woodworking and golf. He played “Hello Mary Lou” on the piano for me when I visited. He worked for 20 years at the Driving Range at Stewart Meadows Golf Course, so many of you may have met him there.  He helped build a house on Valley View Drive in Medford 54 years ago that he lived in until last year.  It still stands where it was built on a stony plot, and “still doesn’t have any cracks yet.” For his final years, Bill resided at the Bonaventure of Medford Retirement Facility.

Bill Branham joined the Bellflower Lions Club in 1956.  He was a member of the North Medford Lions Club while living here, and served as Secretary, Treasurer, and President.  He was also Governor of the Oregon Lions 36-E District in 1979-80.  He was an active and vigorous member of the Jacksonville Lions Club and will be missed dearly.

If you would like more information about the Jacksonville Lions Club, please call Karl at 541 944-2749.  We are always interested in adding members to our relaxed and friendly club.