Mr. Wilfred V Brandt

Wilfred “Wil” Victor Brandt who resided in Conway, Arkansas, passed away November 13, 2018 in Conway, Arkansas. He was one of three children. Wil was born August 2, 1928 in Columbus, Texas to the late G. Alfred Brandt and Linda Berger Brandt. He was a son, brother, husband, uncle, grandfather, teacher, servant, and ‘daddy’ to his children. Wil was 90-years-old.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Gwendolyn “Gay” Pesnell Brandt, whom he was married to for 60 years, his parents G. Alfred and Linda Brandt of Columbus, Texas; one brother, Royce G. Brandt of Austin, Texas; and a grandson, Jonathan Paul Brandt of Solgohachia, Arkansas.
He met his wife “Gay” when she was 16-years-old in Columbus, Texas. He was friends with, and worked for her dad. She worked at a local soda fountain. When he received her dad’s permission, he took her on their first date to a movie. He married Gay on September 13, 1947. They had 10 children Stephen, Alan, Jill, Mark, Brian, Tammy, Kimberly, Melody, April and Sharon. He enjoyed telling people he “called her and raised her 10”! And, when all his children were at home for a meal there were 100 toes under the table.
Wil moved his family from Columbus, Texas to Melbourne, Arkansas in 1958. Along with cattle farming, he worked in the limestone mines of Northern Arkansas and later as a milk hauler for Hills Valley Foods in Batesville, Arkansas. In 1968, he was transferred to Morrilton, Arkansas to manage the Morrilton Cheese Factory. Other occupations he held included truck driving and an electrician. He retired from Kimberly-Clark Corp. in 1993 after 23 years. Wil enjoyed serving as a pilot in the Civil Air Patrol, and was a ham radio operator (call sign KA5NIV). Wil and Gay enjoyed square dancing with the Rebel Reelers, and camping with the Good Sam’s RV Club.
Throughout his life Wil experienced riding in a horse-drawn wagon with his dad as a young boy. He saw the progression of some of the first televisions, as well as cars and trucks. He lived through the era of man “walking on the moon”. Wil enjoyed playing the guitar and singing with family devotionals after a long day’s work beside a crackling fire in the wood stove during the cold winter months living in Northern Arkansas.
Wil proudly served three years in the US ARMY National Guard and was honorably discharged on Jan 2, 1953. He is survived by four sons, Stephen Brandt (Morrow, AR), Alan Brandt (Columbus, TX) Mark Brandt (Conway, AR), Brian Brandt (Conway, AR) six daughters, Jill Brandt Blankenship (Conway, AR), Tammy Brandt Lauterbach (Lindale, TX), Kimberly Brandt (Conway, AR), Melody Brandt (Hot Springs, AR), April Brandt Reynolds (Jackson, MO), Sharon Brandt Davitt (Conway, AR) ; one sister; Jeanette Earleen Treybig (Houston, TX); 20 grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild.
A celebration of his life service will be 11-16-2018 at 2pm, at New Life Church in Conway with military honors under the direction of Griffin Leggett Conway Funeral Home. His final resting place will be beside his bride of 60 years, “Gay” at Crest Lawn Cemetery in Conway, Arkansas.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to missions in India through New Life Church, Conway, AR.