Virgie Mae Eley Branche, 95, of Noblesville, Indiana (formerly of Indianapolis, Indiana), died March 21, 2019. One of five children, Virgie Mae was born September 25,1923 in Shelbyville, Tennessee. She was the daughter of Jessie Lee Eley and Mary Frances Alsbrooks Hensley Eley. Virgie Mae married William Herbert Branche on May 25, 1946, in Shelbyville, Tennessee.
Virgie Mae won a Latin contest in 1938 and was third in her 1941 high school graduation class. At 16, Virgie Mae began her employment career behind the candy counter at Shelbyville’s local five and dime store. She also worked at a large pencil factory there. In 1941 at the age of 19, she moved to Washington, DC to work at the Pentagon as a secretary for an Army General. She excelled at typing and shorthand. She met Bill Branche at a roller skating rink in Washington D.C. After WWII, they married in Shelbyville, TN and then moved to Cleveland, OH. Several years later after moving to Indianapolis, IN, she worked as an administrative assistant
for an insurance company, and then for Northside Baptist Church. She retired from Northside Baptist Church in 1993 at the age of 70, having worked 19 years there.
Virgie Mae played basketball in high school. She had a love of travel, making 12 trips to Alaska, and many trips to Massachusetts and Tennessee to visit family. Virgie adored reading newspapers and poetry. She had a great interest in trains, played bridge, and loved taking many, many pictures. Her favorite beverage was Coca-Cola. She adored sweets and dearly loved her family.
Virgie Mae was a long-time member of Epworth United Methodist Church, active the ladies circle for many years. Survivors include daughters Cheryl Isham, Pamela Branche (Robert (Brett) Thomas), Claudia Conley; 8 grand children including Shawn Causey, Charci Causey, Kendra Bowman, Tara Causey, Margaret Isham, Susan Isham, Caitlin Conley, and Robert Thomas; 9 great grand children including Madelynn Causey, Chase Fryer, Isaiah Bowman, Lydia Bowman, Alaina Bowman, Tiffany Spott, Terelle Sterling, Tammy Thomas, and Robert Thomas; 8 great great grandchildren and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, William Herbert Branche in 2010, and by 4 siblings including Finos Collins Eley, Frances Clorene Eley Nelson, Rufus Marion Eley, and Jack Tee Eley.
Services for Virgie Mae Branche will be held on Monday, March 25, 2019 at 2pm at Epworth UMC. The calling will be from 1pm to 2pm at Epworth UMC. Interment will take place at Union Chapel Cemetery. Indiana Funeral Care is in charge of arrangements. Sunsets were a favorite of hers; she could often be heard telling family, “Look at the sunset, you’ll never see another one like it!” Virgie Mae Branche was the best mom and grandmother ever. She was loved by all and will be missed.