Johnnie William Brandon

Johnnie Brandon, 95, long time resident of the Wildwood Resort City in Village Mills, Texas ascended into the arms of his Heavenly Father on Monday, October 6, 2025, after a brief illness.

Mr. Brandon, also known as Daddy, Paw Paw, Paw Paw #2 and Johnnie B was born in Santa Anna, Texas, on July 19, 1930, to parents Bernice Shannon Brandon and Arthur Brandon. Johnnie grew up in the Stephenville, Texas. He enlisted in the United States Army Air Force in March of 1949, serving four years and defending his country as a medic in the Korean War.  He was discharged in November 1952 and began his long career in the telecommunications industry.

Mr. Brandon’s career took him all over the United States, traveling through or working in 47 of the 50 states, including the Alaskan Pipeline and internationally in Columbia, South America.  Johnnie was an excellent self-taught telecommunications expert who could take a phone apart and reassemble it in nothing flat.  He enjoyed the many perks of his career for over 50 years but surely the best perk of all was meeting his beloved wife Mary who was a telephone operator in Henderson, Texas, while he was working there. They were married in 1953 and were devoted to each other for over 63 years until her passing in December of 2017.  From this happy union two cherished daughters were born, Suzanne Crim and Gina Cryer.

The family moved to Wildwood in 1969 after Johnnie worked there since 1967 and decided to raise his family in the community of Wildwood. Johnnie installed the first telephone office in Wildwood in 1967.

Wildwood served as the perfect location to pursue his favorite hobbies of playing golf, hunting, fishing, spending time with family and friends and his favorite spare time hobby of “piddling” which was puttering around the house fixing anything that needed to be repaired.  A surprising late in life hobby that Johnnie B thoroughly enjoyed was going on cruises with his daughter Gina, family and friends taking his first cruise in 2022.  It took several years of coaxing to convince him to give cruising a try but once he dipped his toe in the water there was no turning back.  He eagerly looked forward to each cruise and proudly wore his captain’s hat on each one.  Many happy memories were made and will be cherished from these wonderful trips.

Mr. Brandon was a member of VFW Post #1514, in Village Mills.  He was a Mason member of the Clinton Lodge #23 in Henderson and received his 65-year pin in May of 2023.  Most Importantly, Johnnie was a long time faithful and active member of Wildwood Baptist Church where he was a fixture on the right side, 5th row aisle seat always meticulously attired in a suit and tie.  It was reported that he gave the best hugs, all while sharing a piece of candy.

Survivors include his children, Suzanne Crim and her husband, Steve, of Whitehouse; Gina Cryer of Wildwood; grandchildren, Brandon Crim and his wife, Lauren, of New Braunfels; Casey Crim and his wife, Jessica, of Whitehouse; Colby Crim of Whitehouse; Calvin M. Cryer III of Hardin; Missy Graham and her husband, Glenn, of Evadale; Melanie Strong and her husband, Eric, of Kingsland; and Megan Mayeux of San Antonio; great-grandchildren, Keaton Crim, Kennedy Crim, Georgia Crim, Memphis Crim, Nicole Reeves and her husband, Kevin, Stephanie Glover and her husband, Mark, Richard Cryer, Brandi Bolin and her husband, Trevor, Courtney Welder and her husband, Harris, Mitch Ballard and his wife, Hope, Michael Ballard and his wife, Cassie, Lane Dorr, Mason Jones and his wife, Abby, Madelynn Jones, Cole Jones and his wife, Lexie, and Matthew Mayeux; thirteen great-great grandchildren; with 4 more little blessings on the way; sister, Willie Lou Monden, of Dublin; and numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Mary Ann Brandon; son-in-law, Calvin Cryer, Jr., and granddaughter, Melinda DeGregory.

A gathering of Mr. Brandon’s family and friends will be 10:00 a.m., with his funeral service at 11:00 a.m., Friday, October 10, 2025, at Wildwood Baptist Church, 98 Wildwood Drive, Wildwood, under the direction of Broussard’s, 490 Cemetery Road, Silsbee. A graveside service will follow at 4:00 p.m., at Lakewood Memorial Park, N. Van Buren Street at SH 64, Henderson.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Wildwood Baptist Church, PO Box 729, Village Mills, Texas 77663 or Wildwood Volunteer Fire Department, PO Box 903, Village Mills, Texas 77663