Wesley "Wes" Braun

Wesley (Wes) Braun January 15, 1917 February 9, 2014 Wesley "Wes" Braun, 97, of Bellefonte, formerly of Pittsburgh, died peacefully at his daughter's home on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2014. Born Jan. 15, 1917, at his parents home in Pittsburgh, he was the son of the late Mary Irene Coleman and Benjamin Arthur Braun, and brother of the late William E. Braun. On April 4, 1941, he married Dorothy Mae Little, who preceded him in death on March 13, 2002. He is survived by his daughters, Barbara J. Braun, of State College, and Janet L. Bartley (Francis), of Bellefonte; granddaughters, Ida (John) O'Donald, Barbara (Chris) Rossman, of Bellefonte, and Lena Higgins, of Snydertown; great-grandchildren, Sarah (Nick) Ward, John O'Donald, James O'Donald, Benjamin, Eva (Chris) Hodgdon, Caleb Rossman, Grace Rossman, Shane Kaschalk and Andrew Kaschalk; two great-great-grandsons, William Ward and William Hodgdon; many nieces; nephews; great nieces; great nephews; loving friends and his special lady friend, Betty Sherword and her children and grandchildren that became his extended Pittsburgh family. Wes grew up in Pittsburgh and graduated from Peabody High School in 1936. During those years, he participated in sports and held various part-time jobs to help support the family. At age 20, he began his lifetime employment with the U.S. Postal Service, retiring after 35 years of service holding various positions during those years. During World War II he served his country in the U.S. Army in charge of mail services for the military after the occupation of Japa,n overseeing services from the central post office on the island of Sapporo, Japan. After retirement, he worked a variety of jobs, having learned several trades and many skills over the years, but the one he enjoyed the most was working for Lenzner Buses as a tour guide for many visitors and dignitaries, providing them with detailed information of Pittsburgh history and little-known facts. He was always willing to help anyone with anything, and he did it with a smile. He enjoyed sports, having had the opportunity to be a teen/young adult when Pittsburgh Pirate baseball and Pirate football were in their young years. He played neighborhood ball with players that went on to be professionals and owners. He enjoyed attending the space launches while his cousin was an astronaut and doing space walks, traveling across the United States to learn more history, camping at Hidden Valley in Mifflinburg, baking, gardening, crafts, woodworking, writing poetry, leading discussion groups and churches as a lay pastor, involvement with Camp Lambec near Erie as board member, counselor, teacher, and activities director, Sunday school superintendent, teacher and board member. He served at local, district, state and national level for the Presbyterian Church. Those who knew him will remember him most for baking and sharing his clothespin cookies, food from his garden, his gentle kindness, his love of God, country and family, and the ability of this large man to make everyone feel comfortable. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, of Bellefonte, for years while he lived there and of North Hills Presbyterian Church, of West View, while living there. At his request, memorial contributions can be made is his honor at either of the above churches. A Celebration of Life gathering will be held at the First Presbyterian Church, Bellefonte on Saturday, April 26, 2014, at 1 p.m. following observance of Lent and Easter as he requested.