David was born to Elsie and Howard Branson on May 21, 1934 in Portland Oregon and died March 21 surrounded by his loving family. His childhood was spent in California and Oregon before settling in Walla Walla. His education included high school years at Prairie Bible Institute Canada and in Walla Walla; college years at Whitworth College, Central Washington University, and a Doctorate's degree in Educational Psychology from the University of Washington. He joined the army in 1957 and served as an intelligence specialist in Japan. He was a student at the UW in 1960 when met his wife, Jeannette, a Seattle schoolteacher, at church. They were married in Kennewick in June, 1961. They wanted adventure before settling down so they flew to New York, boarded the ocean liner Queen Elizabeth I to England, bought a little car and from October to April explored Europe - all on $5 a day. Traveling with Jeannette became an important part of his life. Dave took a position in 1964 as school psychologist with Seattle Public Schools. The next 11 years brought fun, excitement and three children in hippy-era Seattle. Dave grew his full beard which he sported until his death. In 1975, the family moved to Kennewick where he became Director of the Children's Program at Mid-Columbia Mental Health. He later went into private practice. Dave, a psychologist, and Jeannette, a teacher, combined their knowledge and experience to help troubled children and their families - advocating for them in the school and justice systems. They retired in 2002. Dave loved play and imagination of all kinds: pinwheels and puppets; board games and cards; carnival rides and night time hide-and-seek with his children. His love of play included sports - whether that meant playing pick-up basketball and football or following his favorite teams on radio and TV. Books, especially fantasy adventures and mysteries, were his constant companions. Trains fascinated him - from taking train trips, planning model train set-ups to just watching them go by and counting the train cars with his grandchildren. Together Dave and Jeannette advanced their educations, reared three children, and traveled. They were companions through ups and downs; fun and sadness. They celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2011. Dave was a loving husband and a caring, involved father and grandfather. He was a beloved counsellor who helped many adults and children with his kindness, empathy, humor, knowledge and wisdom He is preceded in death by his parents and son, Rob and survived by his wife, Jeannette; daughters Melani Dave St. John; and Jill; grandchildren K.C., Jessie, Aurora, Ruby and Jack; brother Charles Jeanne; and two sisters, Kathryn Duane and Mary Beth. He will meet us in Heaven. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Dave's memory to My Friend's Place an overnight shelter for teens through Safe Harbor Crisis Nursery, crisis-nursery.org/