Robert O. “Bob” Brannon of Waynesville, North Carolina passed away peacefully in the early morning hours on Monday, March 30th at the age of 99 years and 10 months.

With a light chuckle, he liked to tell people that he was already “100” since he was so close to that in years.

Born on June 1,1926 to Melvin Otho Brannon and Susan Olina Bowman Brannon, he was raised in a warm and loving household. His father was both a Methodist Minister and a Veterinarian and his mother a homemaker, seamstress and weaver.

Bob was raised knowing the value of an education and that the discipline of being a part of home life was important. He would feed the chickens and do all his farm chores each morning before school, so he could play sports after school. At a very young age, his love of athletics would begin and continued throughout his life.

At 17, he completed early graduation from Brevard High School and enlisted in the United States Navy for World War 2. While in the Navy, like many young men arriving on the base for training, he was noted for his athletic prowess and recruited by several SEC schools but also by Coach Carl Snavely from the University of North Carolina to play football. Bob was fast, a good offensive player and a Tar Heel at heart. Very fortunately, at the end of the war, he was able to accept the scholarship, and he was happy to know he’d be a teammate of one of his High School football idols from Asheville High School, Charlie “Choo Choo” Justice who was already on the UNC football team. Throughout his life when asked about playing football, Bob would tell the story of how he had heard about this incredible football player called “Choo Choo” when he was in the 9th grade. He asked his dad if he could go to Asheville to see him play a game but was told he’d have to get there and back because his dad was unable to take him. So, Bob rode his bicycle over 7 miles before getting in the back of a farmers truck (with his bicycle) that was headed to Asheville. He did get to see that game and was able to share that with Charlie when they met again at UNC. Two years in, he was injured in a football game in Kenan Stadium when it was a big grassy field full of holes and rocks. While trying to rehab his ankle injury, he learned the sport of soccer from a book and would spend hours on the field after classes running and kicking a soccer ball, because back then there weren’t quick surgeries and Physical Therapist’s. One afternoon the Soccer Coach at UNC with the newly formed program, stopped and asked Bob where he had played soccer in High School - Bob laughed and said, “I’m on the football team but I was injured, so I am working on getting healthy.” Several weeks later he became a member of UNC Soccer and played for two seasons, scoring most every game. In his last season, he led the team to a 2-goal victory over Maryland to win what was then called the Southern Conference with the Daily Tar Heel citing it “Brannon 2 - Maryland 0”.

Bob was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity and the Intramural Basketball team both as player and coach. They were a team of fraternity men; all veterans that played campus pick up ball and also with teams around the area. Bob was also a member of the Riflery Club. He was a letterman in both Football and and Soccer. Bob received his undergraduate degree in Physical Education from UNC graduating in 1951.

He returned to the service during the last two years of the Korean War, serving as 2nd lieutenant in the US Air Force, and afterwards stayed active in the Air Force Reserves for over 20 years serving as a Teacher and Mentor to other Western North Carolina veterans, retiring with the rank of Major. He continued to do volunteer work for Veterans and in 1965 with his father- in - law Lindsey Swindell; the State Commander of the Veterans of World War 1, he initiated a program called “Operation Buddy Veterans of World War 1 Caravan” to build the membership of the organization. The Caravan would start in Manteo, NC and end in Murphy, NC with rallies at each stop. The Governor at the time was Dan. K. Moore and he designated November as World War 1 Veterans Month in North Carolina. It was documented that President Johnson put his stamp on the plan.

Bob eventually pursued a career in business and real estate. He got his Masters Degree in Recreation from Western Carolina University. It remained a lifelong passion for him.

Bob loved these Western North Carolina mountains and was an avid fly fisherman and outdoorsman. What little time he could take off was spent with family and in nature.

In 1969, Bob was appointed the Chairman of the Recreation Commission for the Town of Waynesville. He served on that committee for over 30 years and his goal was to see Waynesville have a Recreation facility that everyone could enjoy. A task force was formed and there were many challenges over the years to achieve that goal and many individuals working together to achieve this vision. It was a group effort that made Bob proud of what teamwork from like-minded folk could do in a small town. In 2001, the Waynesville Recreation facility became a reality with a beautiful ceremony. Bob would chuckle when he recalled those that had said initially “No one is going to visit a Rec Center in a cow pasture”.

Bob placed the highest value on community service. As a young man out of the military he became a member of First United Methodist Church. He was a Sunday school teacher for many years for the young adult’s class. He remained active in the church for decades.

In his 70’s, Bob became the Chairman of the “Save Lake Logan” committee. Lake Logan was in jeopardy of being sold to a private developer for something other than a place for community. Bob engineered a complex deal to complete the sale of 4,400 acres at Lake Logan by Champion International to a consortium of public and non-profit groups. It was important to him that this beautiful lake area be preserved for all to enjoy. Bob knew how to overcome hurdles and get things done. Once he started something, he always finished. And if no one else would do it - Bob would take it on. The “Save Lake Logan” goal became “Lake Logan Saved”.

Bob was a board member of the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy for several years. Bob served on the Board of Directors for Haywood Community College for many years. He was a past President of the Waynesville Rotary Club, a Paul Harris Fellow, Rotarian of the Year, and received the Tai Y. Lee Award for excellence by the Haywood County Economic Development Commission. The Waynesville Recreation Commission presented Bob with a Special Achievement award for his work in getting the Center built. He was a past President of the Haywood County Chamber of Commerce, a Board member of Friends of the Library, and served as a Chairman and Board member for the United Way and past Chairman of the Downtown Waynesville Commission. He was the co-founder with the late Ernest Hodges of the Smoky Mountain Folk Festival which continues to this day. He served as a Director of Hometrust Community Bank for 20 years. He also served as a past President of the Haywood County Board of Realtors and the Operating Principal of Keller Williams Haywood County.

Bob married Elizabeth Swindell of Elizabeth City, NC in 1959 and they have shared a wonderful 67 years together enjoying the mountains, the beach and were very fortunate to travel on several trips overseas. They shared the love of music and sports together.

He is also survived by two daughters Elizabeth Leigh Brannon of Nashville, Tennessee, and Lynn Brannon Lasley of Waynesville, NC, (daughter Susan Brannon McBennett of Waynesville, NC passed away in 2005), and one granddaughter Roselyn Brannon Lasley of Asheville, NC. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews that he dearly loved.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at First United Methodist Church of Waynesville, NC. Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers: the family requests honorariums be made in the name of Robert O. Brannon to the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy, 34 Wall Street, Suite 802, Asheville, NC 28801 or to Haywood Community College, 185 Freedlander Drive, Clyde, NC 28721.

The care of Mr. Brannon has been entrusted to Wells Funeral Home of Waynesville