Obituary of Paul Branch

Paul M. Branch Olean, NY-Paul M. Branch of 1309 Buchanan Avenue passed away peacefully in his sleep at home Wednesday (January 20, 2010) while surrounded by his loving family and friends. Born in Olean on June 2, 1927, Mr. Branch was a son of William Meserole Branch of Port Byron and Elizabeth Morgenstern Branch of Westfield. On Feb. 14, 1953, he married the former Claire Antoinette Armstrong in Olean. They remained married until her death on May 27, 2007. Mr. Branch attended Olean public schools and then the City College of New York and University of Delaware during his service with the U.S. Army in 1944 and 1945. He then graduated Phi Beta Kappa in two years from Dartmouth College with a bachelor's degree before continuing his education to earn a Master of Business Administration from the Amos Tuck School of Business Administration at Dartmouth in 1949. Soon after graduating, Mr. Branch began a long career in the insurance industry, starting as a vice president and treasurer of Both, Branch & Hendrix in Olean. In the late '70s, he founded the Iroquois Group, an insurance agency network that started with five area agencies. At the time of his death, his network spanned 37 states and included 1,800 member agencies. Mr. Branch was always involved in civic, social and educational endeavors in and around Olean. Among his many titles and memberships were chairman of the Olean Planning Board, president of the Olean Kiwanis Club, director of the Olean Community Chest, director of the Exchange National Bank, and trustee of the Chautauqua Institution. He was a member of the Bartlett Country Club, the Blue Lodge of the Masonic Order and the Olean City Club. He also started the Friends of St. Bonaventure University foundation. Mr. Branch will be remembered as a Good Samaritan, a happy and generous friend, an avid businessman and the quintessential family man. Survivors include his children, William A. "Twig" Branch of Charlotte, N.C., Laurie A. Branch of Olean, Amy L. Branch Benoliel of Philadelphia, Christopher J. Branch of Charlotte, and Paul Randall Branch of Charlotte; a special nephew, Thomas Edward "Ted" Branch of Olean; and nine grandchildren, Hilary Branch, Robert Prince, Claire Branch, Ella Branch, Liza Jane Branch, Christopher Branch, Paul Andrei Benoliel, Joshua Benoliel and Katie Benoliel. He was predeceased, in addition to his wife, by two brothers, William Meserole Branch and James Ross Branch. Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the Casey, Halwig and Hartle Funeral Home, 3128 W.State Rd., Olean. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at the St. Bonaventure University Chapel on Saturday (January 23, 2010) at 11 a.m., with Sister Margaret Carney, president of St. Bonaventure University, presiding. Burial will be in Chautauqua Cemetery, town of Chautauqua, NY. Memorials, if desired, may be made to St. Bonaventure University or to Mt. Irenaeus, Franciscan Mountain Retreat St. Bonaventure, NY 14778.