Randolph Rufus 'Dr. Brantley' Brantley

Long time Angleton resident, Dr. Randolph R. Brantley, passed peacefully from this life in the early morning hours of August 17, 2013 at the age of 96. Dr. Brantley was born the youngest of eight children in Philadelphia, Neshoba County, Mississippi. Moving with his family to Texas as a young child, he lived briefly in Wellington, then spent the remainder of his youth on a cotton farm in Amherst, graduating from high school in Littlefield. A fond memory of his was serving as captain of the football team while in high school. He attended Texas Tech University and graduated first in his class from The University of Texas School of Dentistry in Houston in 1943. Following graduation he was commissioned an officer in the U.S. Navy and assigned to the U.S. Marine Corps. During World War II, he served as a dentist on several islands in the South Pacific, including Guadalcanal and Kwajelin. In January 1944 he married Edith Theresa Jaresh of Schulenburg, Texas, who he met at the dental school. Following World War II, they moved to Angleton, Texas, where they lived for 44 years until Edith's death in 1988. In 1995, he married Helen Hunt Brown of Alvin and they were married until her death 10 years later. While practicing dentistry in Angleton, he led an active professional, civic and community life. He was an active member of the First Baptist Church, serving in several leadership capacities. He was a 32nd degree Mason and member of the Angleton Masonic Lodge for over 50 years. He served twelve years on the Board of Trustees of the Angleton Independent School District holding several offices, including that of president. He volunteered with the Boy Scouts of America, was a long time member of the Angleton Lions Club, and life member of the Angleton Chamber of Commerce. He was very successful in his professional life, receiving many honors and awards from his colleagues. These included his service as president of both the Houston and the Texas Academy of General Dentistry. He also was awarded Fellowship in the International College of Dentists and Fellowship in the American College of Dentists. He was a life member of each of the American Academy of General Dentistry, Texas Dental Association, and American Dental Association. He was a member of Omicron Kappa Upsilon, the national dental honor society. In 1991, he received the prestigious Outstanding Alumnus Award by The University of Texas Dental Branch of Houston Alumni Association for his contributions to "The school, the students, alumni and the dental profession"