Charles David “Charlie” Branch, 65, of Colmesneil, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, surrounded by family and friends after a courageous battle with cancer.
Visitation was at 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. service time on Saturday, August 29, 2026 at First Baptist Church Colmesneil with burial following in Sandhill Cemetery all in Colmesneil. Officiating were Brother Walter McAlpin and Brother Vance Cowart. Serving as pallbearers were Keith Fortenberry, Randy Durham, Bo Treadway, Matt Wilkinson, Glen Brown, Harrison Brown, Wade Read, and Billy Read. Honorary pallbearers were: Gardner Oil employees, along with Andy Treadway, Allen Treadway, Jerry Warren, Brian Davis, Luke Wilkinson, Stephen Branch, John Branch, Greg Puckett, Wesley Puckett, Wade Dover, Dennis Moffett, Barry Cutrer, Carl Pope, Rowdy Brown, Presley Brown, Johnny Henry, Anthony Henry, Phillip Spearman, Jeremy Brown, Jeffrey Brown, and Steve Brown.
Charlie was born on September 13, 1960, to Herbert and Katherine Stovall Branch in Carthage, Texas. He moved to Woodville, Texas when he was 15 years old and graduated from Kirby High School in 1979. He was a welder for 25 years and owned Branch Welding and Fabrication until he managed/owned Gardner Oil, INC in 2015. He was a beloved son, husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend. He was a man who believed in working hard, loving deeply, and always doing what he could for the people around him.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Herb and Katherine Branch.
Above all else, Charlie was devoted to his family. He will be deeply missed by his wife of 40 years, Kay Branch of Colmesneil; daughters, Charlotte Dorn and husband John of Beaumont, and Rebecca Branch and partner John Cowart of Colmesneil; brothers, Stephen Branch and wife Cherise of Port O’Connor, and John Branch of Nacogdoches; grandchildren, Emma Dorn, Maximus Dorn, Brantley Bruton, Derrick Bruton and Hunter Cowart; and many loving nieces, nephews, and cousins. He is also survived by his longtime employees and colleagues, who were an important part of his extended family.
Those who knew him will remember his kind heart and generosity, the stories he loved to tell, and the way he could make people feel welcome and cared for. He taught his family many lessons through the way he lived his life — lessons about strength, perseverance, love and never giving up.
Although cancer may have taken him from us, it could never take away the love he gave or the memories he created. His legacy will live on through his children, grandchildren, family, friends, employees, and everyone whose life he touched.
Charlie will be forever loved, forever missed, and forever remembered. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the City of Colmesneil Park, P.O. Box 144, Colmesneil, TX 75938 or First Baptist Church Colmesneil Kids for Christ, P.O. Box 247, Colmesneil, TX 75938.
Services are under the direction of Stringer and Griffin Funeral Home in Woodville, Texas.
