ELON - The night of June 19, 2013, John Calvin Brammer left us to be with our Lord in the care of UNC Chapel Hill Hospitals after two weeks of intensive care. He had resided both at his Elon home and in a Burlington rehabilitation and nursing care facility in declining health for the last two years.
John was born Oct. 17, 1924 in Patrick County, Virginia. He grew up there and left in his young adulthood to serve dutifully in the U.S. Navy during World War II and at war's end married his lovely wife, Louise, on May 27, 1946 in Fairystone Park, Va. They lived in Eden until moving to Alamance County in 1951 and called Elon home for most of their 61 years together.
John was retired from Alcatel-Lucent (Western Electric) of Burlington after 36 years of loyal service. His leisure years gave him cherished opportunities to travel with his wife and visit family, attend school reunions, and often return to his much beloved native territory of Patrick County, Virginia. They cherished exploring their lifelong favorite scenic sites and particularly old churches and family cemeteries that echoed John's interest and passion for researching and compiling family ancestry and he enjoyed sharing those family photos and stories. He was an avid NASCAR fan and collector of car racing novelties and memorabilia - especially as it related to a family race team that He knew from his native Stuart, Virginia.
Along with his wife, John was creative with many hand-crafts: ornaments, calendars and pocket crosses that found their way to all corners of the world.
John was a devoted member of the First Baptist Church of Elon for over 50 years, serving on the church baptismal committee and as a deacon, and was a longtime member of the Senior Adult Men's Sunday School Class.
John is survived by two sisters: Josie B. Montgomery of Advance, N.C. and Geneva B. Pike of Richmond, Va.; four sons, John Melvin Brammer and wife Mary of Charlotte, Howard L. Brammer and wife Roxanne of Wilmington, Harold L. Brammer of Elon and C. Keith Brammer and wife Kathy of Clayton; five grandsons; four granddaughters; and three great-grandsons; a great-granddaughter; and numerous in-laws, cousins, nephews and nieces.
John was preceded in-death by his wife, Louise Morrison Brammer, and was the son of the late A.T. Brammer and the late Bessie Midkiff Brammer. He was also preceded in death by siblings, Alvis Brammer, Joe Brammer, Dolly B. Handy, Dora B. Howell, Doris B. O'Dell, Alpha B. Griffith; EllaMae B. Pendleton, Bettie B. Yeatts and Alberta B. Carroll.
The funeral service will be held at the First Baptist Church of Elon, Saturday, June 22, 2013 at 11 a.m. by the Rev. Mark Mofield and the Church Choir. The U.S. Navy will provide military honors at the church at the conclusion of the service. The graveside service will follow at Sycamore Baptist Church cemetery, Buffalo Ridge Community, Patrick County, Va., at 3 p.m., where he will be laid to rest next to his wife, Louise.
The Brammer family wishes to extend their heartfelt gratitude to all the doctors, nurses, nursing assistants, therapists, technicians, administrative and support staffs at the UNC Hospitals of Chapel Hill, Alamance Regional Medical Center of Burlington, Liberty Commons of Burlington, and family physicians, church family, neighbors and friends for their attentive support, kindnesses, and affections to this special man over the past weeks, months and years.
In lieu of flowers, contributions and donations may be made to charities of choice or to the Building Fund of the First Baptist Church of Elon. - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/thetimesnews/obituary.aspx?pid=165436773#sthash.6f1DZHzB.dpuf