Speegle Allan "Al" Branch

Speegle Allan “Al” Branch, age 93, of Grants Pass, died Monday, January 11, 2010 at Spring Pointe.

A viewing will be from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Monday, January 18, 2010 at Hull & Hull Funeral Directors.

A funeral service will begin at 11:30 a.m., Monday, January 18, 2010 at Hull & Hull Chapel. Interment will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Park.

Al was born January 21, 1916 in Russell, Oklahoma to Benjamin & Margaret Branch. He was raised in Oklahoma and then moved to Los Angeles County, California. He later moved to Fresno, California where he met his first wife, Lorraine Landreth. They married in 1937 and raised three children prior to a divorce. In July 1966 he married Evelyn D. Dickman and subsequently moved to Oak Harbor, Washington. He was a self-employed building contractor, both residential and commercial, prior to his retirement. In 1997 he moved to Grants Pass.

He enjoyed membership in Elks for many years.

Al enjoyed visiting and traveling with his family. He was an avid fisherman and hunter and also enjoyed camping.

Survivors include three children, Mittie L. Beggs and husband Gerald of Grants Pass; Janice M. Critchlow of British Columbia, Canada, and Harvey Eugene “Gene” Branch of Fresno, California; seven grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and a brother, Benjamin A. Branch of Coarsegold, California.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Evelyn D. Dickman Branch in 1997; his former wife, Lorraine Landreth Branch; and a brother, Harvey A. Branch.