Graveside service for Billie E. Brantley will be 10:00 A.M. Tuesday, July 11, 2017 at Fort Sill National Cemetery, Elgin.
Entombment with military honors will be under the direction of Becker-Rabon Funeral Home.
Billie E. Brantley, age 91, of Lawton passed away June 16, 2017 in Lawton. He was born July 4, 1925 in Waurika, Oklahoma to Joseph H. and Maggie Bell (Proctor) Brantley. He married Mary Delia Brown on June 19, 1948 in Las Vegas, Nevada. She died August 19, 2008. Mr. Brantley served in the US Navy during World War II as an Aviation Ordnance Specialist/Seaman 1st class. This was a big change for a young man who grew up in the Sterling area and graduated from Sterling High School in 1943. With World War II well underway, Billie enlisted in the US Navy, and after basic training, found himself aboard the Aircraft Carrier USS Franklin (CV 13) in the Pacific Theater of Operation. As an Aviation Ordnance Specialist, he worked at storing, maintaining and installation of all types of ammunition, bombs, rockets and torpedoes for the ships aircraft. The USS Franklin (CV 13) was commissioned in 1943 and was soon sent to the Pacific Theater where it was engaged in every significant operation from 1943 until early in 1945. This was an exciting, but dangerous time for a young sailor from Sterling, Oklahoma. On the 19th of March, 1945, while engaged in operations only 60 miles off the Japanese coast, the Franklin was hit by two large aerial bombs that caused major damage to the ship. The ship was saved by the heroic actions of her crew, but 724 crewmembers died and another 265 men were wounded. Billie survived this event without injury and was subsequently taken off the Franklin by a rescue ship. The USS Franklin also survived this attack, and was eventually repaired, but not before the war ended. Billie was discharged from the US Navy in June, 1946. He then went to work for the Santa Fe Railroad for 38 years in the Barstow, California and Cleburne, Texas areas, retiring in 1986 and returning to the Sterling area in 1992. On May 4, 2012 Billie took the Oklahoma Honor Flight to Washington D.C. to visit the WW II Memorial. This was a great moment in his life. Billie is a member of American Legion Post #306 in Fletcher.
He is survived by a son Gary F. Brantley of Palm Desert, CA, grandson Benjamin Brantley and wife Gloria of Gilbert, AZ, granddaughter April Brantley of Palm Desert, CA, many nieces, nephews other relatives and friends.
He is proceeded in death by his parents, his wife Mary, brothers: Melvin Brantley, Monte Brantley, Glenn Brantley, Doyle Brantley and daughter-in-law Jaqui Brantley.
Memorial contributions may be made to American Legion Chandler/Bilyeu Post 306, Fletcher, OK 73541
Entombment with military honors will be under the direction of Becker-Rabon Funeral Home.
Billie E. Brantley, age 91, of Lawton passed away June 16, 2017 in Lawton. He was born July 4, 1925 in Waurika, Oklahoma to Joseph H. and Maggie Bell (Proctor) Brantley. He married Mary Delia Brown on June 19, 1948 in Las Vegas, Nevada. She died August 19, 2008. Mr. Brantley served in the US Navy during World War II as an Aviation Ordnance Specialist/Seaman 1st class. This was a big change for a young man who grew up in the Sterling area and graduated from Sterling High School in 1943. With World War II well underway, Billie enlisted in the US Navy, and after basic training, found himself aboard the Aircraft Carrier USS Franklin (CV 13) in the Pacific Theater of Operation. As an Aviation Ordnance Specialist, he worked at storing, maintaining and installation of all types of ammunition, bombs, rockets and torpedoes for the ships aircraft. The USS Franklin (CV 13) was commissioned in 1943 and was soon sent to the Pacific Theater where it was engaged in every significant operation from 1943 until early in 1945. This was an exciting, but dangerous time for a young sailor from Sterling, Oklahoma. On the 19th of March, 1945, while engaged in operations only 60 miles off the Japanese coast, the Franklin was hit by two large aerial bombs that caused major damage to the ship. The ship was saved by the heroic actions of her crew, but 724 crewmembers died and another 265 men were wounded. Billie survived this event without injury and was subsequently taken off the Franklin by a rescue ship. The USS Franklin also survived this attack, and was eventually repaired, but not before the war ended. Billie was discharged from the US Navy in June, 1946. He then went to work for the Santa Fe Railroad for 38 years in the Barstow, California and Cleburne, Texas areas, retiring in 1986 and returning to the Sterling area in 1992. On May 4, 2012 Billie took the Oklahoma Honor Flight to Washington D.C. to visit the WW II Memorial. This was a great moment in his life. Billie is a member of American Legion Post #306 in Fletcher.
He is survived by a son Gary F. Brantley of Palm Desert, CA, grandson Benjamin Brantley and wife Gloria of Gilbert, AZ, granddaughter April Brantley of Palm Desert, CA, many nieces, nephews other relatives and friends.
He is proceeded in death by his parents, his wife Mary, brothers: Melvin Brantley, Monte Brantley, Glenn Brantley, Doyle Brantley and daughter-in-law Jaqui Brantley.
Memorial contributions may be made to American Legion Chandler/Bilyeu Post 306, Fletcher, OK 73541
Graveside service for Billie E. Brantley will be 10:00 A.M. Tuesday, July 11, 2017 at Fort Sill National Cemetery, Elgin.
Entombment with military honors will be under the direction of Becker-Rabon Funeral Home.
Billie E. Brantley, age 91, of Lawton passed away June 16, 2017 in Lawton. He was born July 4, 1925 in Waurika, Oklahoma to Joseph H. and Maggie Bell (Proctor) Brantley. He married Mary Delia Brown on June 19, 1948 in Las Vegas, Nevada. She died August 19, 2008. Mr. Brantley served in the US Navy during World War II as an Aviation Ordnance Specialist/Seaman 1st class. This was a big change for a young man who grew up in the Sterling area and graduated from Sterling High School in 1943. With World War II well underway, Billie enlisted in the US Navy, and after basic training, found himself aboard the Aircraft Carrier USS Franklin (CV 13) in the Pacific Theater of Operation. As an Aviation Ordnance Specialist, he worked at storing, maintaining and installation of all types of ammunition, bombs, rockets and torpedoes for the ships aircraft. The USS Franklin (CV 13) was commissioned in 1943 and was soon sent to the Pacific Theater where it was engaged in every significant operation from 1943 until early in 1945. This was an exciting, but dangerous time for a young sailor from Sterling, Oklahoma. On the 19th of March, 1945, while engaged in operations only 60 miles off the Japanese coast, the Franklin was hit by two large aerial bombs that caused major damage to the ship. The ship was saved by the heroic actions of her crew, but 724 crewmembers died and another 265 men were wounded. Billie survived this event without injury and was subsequently taken off the Franklin by a rescue ship. The USS Franklin also survived this attack, and was eventually repaired, but not before the war ended. Billie was discharged from the US Navy in June, 1946. He then went to work for the Santa Fe Railroad for 38 years in the Barstow, California and Cleburne, Texas areas, retiring in 1986 and returning to the Sterling area in 1992. On May 4, 2012 Billie took the Oklahoma Honor Flight to Washington D.C. to visit the WW II Memorial. This was a great moment in his life. Billie is a member of American Legion Post #306 in Fletcher.
He is survived by a son Gary F. Brantley of Palm Desert, CA, grandson Benjamin Brantley and wife Gloria of Gilbert, AZ, granddaughter April Brantley of Palm Desert, CA, many nieces, nephews other relatives and friends.
He is proceeded in death by his parents, his wife Mary, brothers: Melvin Brantley, Monte Brantley, Glenn Brantley, Doyle Brantley and daughter-in-law Jaqui Brantley.
Memorial contributions may be made to American Legion Chandler/Bilyeu Post 306, Fletcher, OK 73541
Entombment with military honors will be under the direction of Becker-Rabon Funeral Home.
Billie E. Brantley, age 91, of Lawton passed away June 16, 2017 in Lawton. He was born July 4, 1925 in Waurika, Oklahoma to Joseph H. and Maggie Bell (Proctor) Brantley. He married Mary Delia Brown on June 19, 1948 in Las Vegas, Nevada. She died August 19, 2008. Mr. Brantley served in the US Navy during World War II as an Aviation Ordnance Specialist/Seaman 1st class. This was a big change for a young man who grew up in the Sterling area and graduated from Sterling High School in 1943. With World War II well underway, Billie enlisted in the US Navy, and after basic training, found himself aboard the Aircraft Carrier USS Franklin (CV 13) in the Pacific Theater of Operation. As an Aviation Ordnance Specialist, he worked at storing, maintaining and installation of all types of ammunition, bombs, rockets and torpedoes for the ships aircraft. The USS Franklin (CV 13) was commissioned in 1943 and was soon sent to the Pacific Theater where it was engaged in every significant operation from 1943 until early in 1945. This was an exciting, but dangerous time for a young sailor from Sterling, Oklahoma. On the 19th of March, 1945, while engaged in operations only 60 miles off the Japanese coast, the Franklin was hit by two large aerial bombs that caused major damage to the ship. The ship was saved by the heroic actions of her crew, but 724 crewmembers died and another 265 men were wounded. Billie survived this event without injury and was subsequently taken off the Franklin by a rescue ship. The USS Franklin also survived this attack, and was eventually repaired, but not before the war ended. Billie was discharged from the US Navy in June, 1946. He then went to work for the Santa Fe Railroad for 38 years in the Barstow, California and Cleburne, Texas areas, retiring in 1986 and returning to the Sterling area in 1992. On May 4, 2012 Billie took the Oklahoma Honor Flight to Washington D.C. to visit the WW II Memorial. This was a great moment in his life. Billie is a member of American Legion Post #306 in Fletcher.
He is survived by a son Gary F. Brantley of Palm Desert, CA, grandson Benjamin Brantley and wife Gloria of Gilbert, AZ, granddaughter April Brantley of Palm Desert, CA, many nieces, nephews other relatives and friends.
He is proceeded in death by his parents, his wife Mary, brothers: Melvin Brantley, Monte Brantley, Glenn Brantley, Doyle Brantley and daughter-in-law Jaqui Brantley.
Memorial contributions may be made to American Legion Chandler/Bilyeu Post 306, Fletcher, OK 73541
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