Thelma Irene (Schaub) Branstetter

SANTA FE - Mrs. Thelma Irene (Schaub) Branstetter passed away from this life Saturday, September 7, 2024, in Texas City.

Thelma was BOI July 17, 1938. While attending Ball High School she met and married the love of her life, David. They moved to Santa Fe where she lived for 52 years. She was a director assistance operator with Southwestern Bell for 20 years. Although she left the island, Thelma’s love for the ocean never stopped. She went on over 15 cruises visiting mostly tropical destinations. It was on one of these trips that Thelma realized her love for sea turtles. Her turtle collection is evidence of that. She enjoyed her garden and watching ME TV especially when MASH was on. While she loved her sea turtles, nothing could compare to the love she had for her grandchildren and eventually, great-grandchildren. They were everything to her.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Frank Lee and Ellen May (Albrechtsen) Schaub; her husband of 65 years, David Lee Branstetter, Sr.; sister, Kathleen Johnston.

Survivors include her sons, David Lee Branstetter, Jr., Steven “Beaver” Branstetter, Richard Branstetter; daughters, Sheila Harvey and husband, Terry, Tami Bush and husband, Paul, Lisa Walker and fiancé, David Wilkins; sister, Louise Brannon; grandchildren, Jon Branstetter, Matthew Branstetter, Danna DeVries (Casey), Teri Jo Janik (Derek), Stevie Branstetter, Tandi Cox (Jason), Willie Bush (Morgan), Derek Walker, Darren Walker (Ashley); great-grandchildren, Madisen and Ethan Devries, Skyler and Ashlyn Janik, Kaidence and Logan Cox, Kyleigh Bush, Kenny Branstetter, Reese and Rhett Walker.

Graveside services will be 2:00 p.m. Friday, September 13, 2024, at Hayes Grace Memorial Park Cemetery, under the direction of Hayes Funeral Home, 10412 Highway 6, Hitchcock, TX (409) 925-3501. 

Memorials in the form of donations may be made in Thelma’s name to the Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Attn: Development ~ Preston Van Hooser, Post Office Box 1675, Galveston, TX 77553-1675. Please make checks payable to the Texas A&M Foundation and include in the memo: 05-58620 Turtle Research.

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