Tobiah M. Brannen

BRANNEN - Tobiah M. Brannen, 96, passed away on January 13, 2011. She was born on April 2, 1914 in St. Petersburg, Florida. A first generation American, her parents, Esther Tarapani Lovitz and Samuel Lovitz, were immigrants from Lithuania. Tobiah (Tobi) grew up in Tarpon Springs, Florida, where her parents and her Uncle and his wife had a clothing store, Tarapani’s. Tobi graduated in 1934 from Florida State College for Women (now FSU), with the highest grade point average in history at that school. Next to her family and many relatives, her greatest love and interest was in teaching her many students for over 40 years. For more than 30 years, she taught at Wilson Junior High in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In 1942, working for the FBI in Miami, where she translated letters and other documents from Spanish to English, she met and married Jackson E. Brannen from Littlefield, Texas, who was a B-25 Bombardier/Navigator. They married before his B-25 Bomber Group was sent to China to join General Chenault and the Flying Tigers, where Jack was the lead bombardier. In 1950, they moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico. Tobi is survived by her only child, Jeffrey R. Brannen and his wife Mary Brannen of Santa Fe, New Mexico, and their son Samuel Brannen and his wife Laura Keating of Alexandria, Virginia. She is also survived by her sister Frances Zlotnik of Houston, Texas and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her brother Julius Lovitz. Her family thanks the many persons at Manzano del Sol, friends and caretakers, who took such loving care of her in her final years. Tobi will be buried next to her husband in the National Cemetery in Santa Fe, New Mexico. A family reunion and memorial celebration will be held at a later date in Tarpon Springs, Florida. Please direct contributions to your charity of choice as memorials for Tobiah Brannen. Tobiah's care has been entrusted to: Daniels Family Funeral Services 7601 Wyoming Blvd NE Albuquerque, NM 87109 (505) 821-0010