Kendell Branch, 86, transitioned to the Heavenly realm on Saturday, December 22, 2018 at Harbor Hospice Houston Inpatient Facility surrounded by his loving family and friends.

A native of Port Arthur, Kendell was the 11th of 13 siblings born to the union of A.O. Branch, Sr. and Mattie Brown Branch on February 25, 1932. Kendell was baptized at New Hope Missionary Baptist Church and remained a life long member. He was a 1952 graduate of Lincoln High School and a United States Army Veteran. He attended Prairie View A & M University. Kendell worked and retired from Texaco and Port Arthur ISD.  He was a loyal member of the Royalist Social and Civic Club.

Kendell is preceded in death by his parents; mother-in-law and father-in-law J.P. and Gladys Washington; five sisters, Ora Lee Turner, Hettie Shotwell, Annabelle Keener, Grace Delesbore, and Raye Branch; five brothers, Athon Oscar Branch, Jr., Roger Branch, Corliss Branch, Glen Branch, and Dale Branch.

Gone but never forgotten, Kendell leaves to cherish the priceless memory of his love and strength, his wife of 62 years, Gloria; daughters: Fay Branch Kirby of Cypress, and Gladys Branch Henderson (Herbert, II) of Pearland; sisters: June Burrell and Fay Branch, both of Port Arthur; four grandsons and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

Funeral service will be 11 a.m. Saturday, December 29, 2018 at New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, 549 W. Gulfway Drive, Port Arthur, TX with visitation from 9 a.m. until service time.  Pastor Donald R. Frank, Sr. will officiate.  Entombment will follow in Live Oak Cemetery.