Velorien Coy Branscum (Vel), 86, entered into rest on December 7, 2012 in Manteca, CA. He was born on April 12, 1926 in Timbo, Arkansas and raised in Shawnee, Oklahoma by the late Coy and Clarcie Branscum. He joins his parents in heaven, as well as his beloved siblings Lovell, Burdette and Travis Branscum, LaFay McClean and Frankie Nunes.

Vel is survived by his devoted wife of 66 years, Evelyn Branscum; loving children: daughter Sherry Potts; daughter and son-in-law Candace and Joel Tokheim; son and daughter-in-law Randy and Jayne Branscum, all of Manteca; cherished grandchildren: Shondra Scarfo, Brandon Potts, Stacey Kalin, JustinTokheim, Jason Tokheim, Adam Tokheim, Jayde Branscum, Chyna Branscum and Rayna Branscum and 10 great-grandchildren.

Before retirement Vel owned and operated 3 Foster Freeze Restaurants, including Manteca and Tracy, A&W Restaurant in Modesto and Burger Tree in Manteca. He established the Double BB Miniature Horse Ranch in Manteca in 1984, which garnered numerous national championships.

Vel served in the Army during World War II and was injured during the Battle of the Bulge and was awarded the Purple Heart. When he recovered, he transferred to the Military Police. When he was honorably discharged, he rushed to Oklahoma to marry his sweetheart, Evelyn Williams, and moved to California. He worked for Northrop and was determined to have his own business. With his wife and three children, he moved to Manteca in 1960 and opened the Foster Freeze Restaurant.

Vel loved his family very much and enjoyed spending time with all of them. His loving and gentle ways raised generations of devoted family members that will miss his wisdom, guidance and strength, but are comforted by the knowledge that he has gone to a better place.

The words he lived by: I shall pass through this world but once. Any good that I can do, or any kindness that I can show another human being let me do it now and not defer it. For I shall not pass this way again.
P.L. Fry & Son is honored to serving the Branscum family. A visitation will be held on Tuesday December 11, 2012 from 3:00 pm – 5:00 p.m. at P. L. Fry & Son 290 N. Union Rd. Manteca. A service will be on Wednesday December 12, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. also held at P.L. Fry & Son Chapel. He will be laid to rest at Parkview Cemetery. An online guest book is available at www.plfryandson.com (search obituaries)

Manteca (Calif.) Bulletin
Tuesday, December 11, 2012