James "Jim" Dorman Brandon

James “Jim” Dorman Brandon, 92, an inquisitive man with a sharp mind until the end, passed away on Saturday February 11, 2017 at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. He was born May 7, 1924 in Yadkin County to Franklin Fisher “Fish” Brandon and Lela Ann May Brandon. Mr. Brandon was a long time resident of Winston-Salem, NC. He was a graduate of Courtney High School and Appalachian State Teachers College with a Master’s degree in High School Education. In addition, he served in the Army following WWII, having been stationed in Japan. When asked what he did for a living, he would often say “not much”. But in fact he worked and drew a paycheck until he was eighty. He grew up working on the family farm in Yadkin County and following his graduation he taught school, worked as a technical writer for Western Electric, was NASDC Principal and inspected migrant housing for the state. Following his retirement from the state, he most enjoyed being a courtesy car driver for an automobile dealership in town. Jim loved meeting new people and asking them questions about themselves. Jim enjoyed traveling as long as his health permitted. He had been to every county in NC, every state in the union and to 45 countries around the world having passed through 66 airports. He also loved following politics, keeping up with current events, playing bridge and seeing his friends at McDonald’s. He said that if anyone ever asked him the secret to his longevity he would attribute it to having eaten several hundred pounds of cod fish and cole slaw throughout the course of his life. He also exercised regularly at the “Y”. In addition to his parents, Jim was preceded in death by his brothers William Poe, Samuel Braxton and Hugh Franklin Brandon; sisters Alice Eulalia Brandon, Josephine Brandon Smith, Ida May Brandon Taylor, and Hilda Brandon Poindexter; niece Alice Smith Tise (Linwood) Phelps and nephews Joe (Becky) Poindexter and Bill Brandon. He is survived by his wife, Mabel Morgan Brandon; niece and caregiver Terre Brandon Helffrich, her husband David and their son, Lawson; nieces Carole Brandon and Ann Brandon (Don) Burke; and nephews Bill (Sims) Poindexter, Tom (Sarah) Brandon and Kent (Sue) Brandon. The family would like to thank the doctors, nurses and staff of Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Piedmont and Yadkin Dialysis Centers for their care and treatment and the compassion shown to Mr. Brandon over the past several months. A graveside service will be conducted at 11:00 AM Thursday February 16, 2017 at South Oak Ridge Baptist Church Cemetery by Dr. Phil Beavers with Military Rights by VFW Post 10346 . In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to South Oak Ridge Baptist Church, 1336 Lone Hickory Road Yadkinville, NC 27055. Online condolences may be made at www.gentryfuneralservice.com. Gentry Family Funeral Service in Yadkinville is serving the Brandon family.