Branagin - Paul
PAUL F. BRANAGIN
Source: Obituary from a collection of Fauniel Hershbarger, a life-long Fountain County Indiana resident
Three people including a former Crawfordsville police chief died in a two-vehicle collision about 5:25 p.m. Friday on Interstate 74 southeast of here. Two other persons were seriously hurt. Killed in the head-on crash were: Paul F. Branagin, 64, who resided in Imperial Estates here and was city police chief from 1956 through 1958 prior to retiring. David K. Worrell, 33, of Rt. 4, Lafayette. Greg Worrell, 11, son of David Worrell. Seriously injured in the smashup were Mrs. Nancy Worrell, 32, wife of David Worrell and mother of Greg Worrell, and her nine-month-old daughter, Penny. They were brought to Culver Hospital and later were transferred to Home Hospital at Lafayette. Mrs. Worrell suffered fractures and multiple lacerations and contusions. The baby sustained a broken leg and multiple lacerations. Mrs. Worrell was listed in serious condition today. A hospital spokesman said the infant was in serious but stable condition. State police said a pickup truck-camper driven by Branagin was traveling west in an eastbound lane of the highway when it collided head-on with a car driven by Worrell. Investigating officers said witnesses told them Worrel was attempting to pass another vehicle when the collision occurred. There were no skidmarks, officers said. The impact ripped the camper and bed from the truck frame. Both vehicles were demolished. Witnesses reported the Branagin truck was speeding as well as being in the wrong lane. State Trooper Dave Clark said Worrell and Branagin were killed outright. Branagin was thrown from his truck. Clark said the Worrell boy was unconscious when he arrived but died before he could be removed from the car. State police in Hendricks County received a call from a motorist at 5:32 o’clock that a vehicle was in the wrong lane of the highway. The report was received just minutes after the deadly collision had happened. Officers speculated that it had taken the motorist a few minutes to reach a telephone. The collision occurred near the Beckville Road overpass. Branagin was employed as a security guard at Central State Hospital and was apparently on his way home from work. The three deaths doubled Montgomery County’s traffic fatality total for the year. Mr. Branagin was a 25-year member of the police department here. He was a member of Fraternal Order of Police and the First Christian Church. He was a breeder of world-known Hackney ponies. One of them, King of Beligum, is at the present time number one in the world. He attended Montgomery County schools. He was born Aug. 17, 1909, at Kirkpatrick, a son of John and Bessie Saidla Branagin. He was first married to Marjorie Krout, who died in 1931. He later was married to Ruby Smith. He was married to Virginia Graves Edwards in 1972. Surviving with the widow are a step-son, Michael Edwards of Crawfordsville; four step-daughters, Mrs. Phyllis Gibson of Ladoga, Mrs. Nancy Kendricks and Mrs. Carla Watson of Crawfordsville, and Mrs. Judy Mattingly of Wingate; and three step-grandchildren. Services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday in Powers Funeral Home here with the Rev. P. J. Hamilton officiating. Burial will be in Crawfordsville Masonic Cemetery. Friends may call after 2 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Raymond Mitchell, 59, Rt. 7, Greenwood, died Friday when his car collided with a tractor pulling a mobile home on U. S. 231, south of Freedom in Owen County. Ruth M. Dunakin, 36, Paulding, Ohio, died Friday night of injuries suffered earlier in a two-car crash on U. S. 24, eight miles east of New Haven in Allen County. Her husband, Charles, and their four children were hospitalized at Fort Wayne. Robert E. Reed, 48, Indianapolis, was killed Friday when his car crashed along 106th St. north of Indianapolis in Hamilton County. – jlr
b. Aug. 17, 1909 d. Aug. 2, 1974