Obituary of Colonel Marvin Eugene Brantley, USAF

Beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend, Lt. Colonel Marvin Eugene “Gene” Brantley left this world to meet his Heavenly Father with his signature “Cheers” greeting on Sunday, July 22, 2018. A member of the greatest generation, Lt. Colonel Brantley served in the Marine Corps and Air Force from 1944 – 1977 and was part of the World War II, Korea and Vietnam conflicts. Lt. Colonel Brantley served with the 20th Fighter Wing – Shaw AFB, 49th Fighter Wing – Korea, 18th Fighter Wing – Okinawa, 31st Fighter Wing – Turner AFB, Tactical Air Command Headquarters – Langley AFB, NATO Headquarters – SHAPE Belgium, New York Air National Guard – Air Force Advisor, Headquarters Air Force Reserve – Warner Robins AFB, Central Air Force Reserve Region – Ellington AB, and the Vietnam Air Command & Staff College – Maxwell AFB. During his decorated military career, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross – Korea, Bronze Star – Vietnam, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal – Korea for raids on Pyongyang, Air Force Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, American Theater. He and Richard (Dick) Burns were dubbed the “Gold Dust Twins” and were the first to fly single engine jets both ways across the Atlantic Ocean and to Japan across the Pacific from Turner AFB in Albany, Georgia. Just as he was a decorated member of the military, Lt. Colonel Brantley he was a loving son, brother, husband, father and granddaddy. He was born to Marvin Eugene Brantley, Sr. and Hallie Meetze Brantley on July 30, 1927 in Salisbury, NC. He was joined by his siblings Brother Donald (Betty) Brantley and sister Anne (Gordon) Badgley. After a childhood full of paper routes, being active in his high school theater and thespian troupe and working in the ship yard while growing up in New Port News, VA, he enlisted in the Marine Corps and then eventually into the Air Force when he decided he wanted to be a fighter pilot. The military took him to Albany, Georgia where he met the love of his life, the former Lucia Ellis. For him it was love at first sight but he had to fight to convince Lucia to give him a chance, which she finally did after several coincidental encounters at the Pig & Whistle. They began dating on June 10, 1954 and exactly one year later on June 10, 1955 they were engaged and then married on October 15 that same year. Despite his many deployments across the globe, he and Ms. Lucia lived more in the moments that they were together and never took their 63 years together for granted. Their lives were enhanced by three lovely daughters, Beverley (Jim) Goethe, the late Merri Brantley, and Sandra (Stephen) Creighton. Gene loved his grandchildren Cara Leigh, Kimberly and Stephanie Creighton and Clint and Logan Goethe, dearly. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to The Merri M. Brantley Scholarship Fund at GGC (Georgia Gwinnett College) Foundation, 1000 University Center, Building B, Suite 2000, Lawrenceville, GA. 30043. Visitation will be held from 10:00AM to 11:00AM on Saturday July 28, 2018 at Heritage Memorial Funeral Home. A Graveside service will be held at 3:00PM on Saturday July 28, 2018 in Crown Hill Cemetery in Albany GA. Please sign the online guest book at www.heritagemfh.com. Heritage Memorial Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.