Captain Alvin D. “Deon” Branch, 90, passed away peacefully at his home Sunday, Sept. 2, 2018. He was born June 24, 1928, in Norfolk, to the late Linwood and Iris Branch.
Deon grew up working at the family’s Virginia Beach Lynn-Dee Motel. He graduated from Maury High School in 1946, where he excelled in many sports. He attended Bullis Preparatory School in Maryland. He then entered the U.S. Naval Academy, and was commissioned in 1951. He was also a graduate of the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School and received a Master of Science Degree in Operations Research.
During his distinguished Naval career of over 30 years, he commanded five ships, achieved the rank of commodore, served in Korea, worked at the Pentagon, and received numerous decorations and awards, including the U.S. Navy Commendation Medal, National Defense Medal with Bronze Star, Korean Presidential Unit Citation, United Nations Service Medal and the Korean Service Medal with two Bronze Stars. He was very proficient in mathematics, which was helpful in his next career after his retirement from the U.S. Navy as a stock and commodity broker for E.F. Hutton on Wall Street and then North Miami Beach.
His brilliance with algorithms and statistics in developing commodity trading strategies led to a successful career in that field as well.
Deon was a principled man devoted to country and family. He married the former Jacqueline Tubbs of Virginia Beach in 1958. His home in Virginia Beach was constantly visited by friends and family. Deon’s summer crab picking parties were can’t-miss events. He was also a longtime member of the Princess Anne Country Club. He was a tutor to the granddaughters he adored, Jacqueline, Madison and Aven Oliver, helping them advance in their education. Deon was the patriarch and rock of his family. Although he was confined to a wheelchair for the last 30 years, he never complained, and he always encouraged all to reach for the stars and achieve one’s full potential. He lived what he preached and will be truly missed.
Deon was preceded in death by his wife, Jacqueline Tubbs Branch; son, A. Deon Branch Jr.; brother, Linwood O. B. Branch; and sister, Jacqueline Branch. Survivors include his daughter, Dee B. Oliver, and her husband, R. Boyd Melchor; granddaughters, Jacquie A. Oliver, Madison B. Oliver and Aven S. Oliver, all of Virginia Beach; and many nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends from 4 to 6 p.m., Friday, Sept. 7, at H.D. Oliver Funeral Apts. Laskin Road Chapel. A funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 8, at Galilee Episcopal Church. Burial will follow in Eastern Shore Chapel Cemetery. The family is deeply grateful for caretaker and good friend Lamont Galloway, as well as Angie Lynch, Michelle Putman, Mary Lou Smith, Nori Walters, Mavel Jagow and Linda Beecher.
Memorial donations may be made to the Virginia Beach Rescue Squad.
Share online condolences with the family at H.D. Oliver Funeral Apartments.
