Norman H. Branchflower, Jr. (Fredrick) died unexpectedly but peacefully at his home on November 28, 2022 at age 86. His loving commitment to family, his friendships and service, along with his deep love and appreciation for his community, were the principles that guided his life.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Nancy Nickum Branchflower (Melanie) of Poulsbo, his brother, Lyle Branchflower, four children: Isabel, Stephen, Jenny, and Louisa, seven grandchildren: Katie, Jessie, Jake, Ursula, Noah, Penelope and Oscar, and one great grandson: Diogoye. His son, Bruce, preceded him in death, as did his parents, Norman Hannah and Edith Williams Branchflower.
Fredrick graduated from Lakeside School in 1954 and Princeton in 1958. Following graduation, he married Nancy Nickum (Melanie). He then attended Navy Officer Candidate School and began a 20-year military career which included 12 years on submarines. In 1969, he pursued a master’s degree in Operations Research and Systems Analysis from the US Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, later applying this training at the Naval Underwater Systems Center in New London, CT. He also served as an Exchange Officer with the Royal Navy in Scotland for two years. His last tour of duty was as the Commander of the USS Point Loma, a ship converted to support the Trieste, a bathyscape configured to operate at depths down to 20,000 feet.
Upon retiring from the Navy, his family returned to the Pacific Northwest and Fredrick began to work in software development, later launching his own business and ultimately branching out to other entrepreneurial ventures. In their later years, he and Melanie built a home in Kitsap County, and Fredrick became very active as a volunteer. In addition to his devoted community service, he was an avid reader and loved to tell stories of his own. In the last few years of his life, he enjoyed dabbling in watercolors and acrylics.
His family will be holding a Celebration of Life for him on Saturday, March 11 at the Village Green Community Center, 26159 Dulay Rd. NE, Kingston, WA beginning at 3 pm.
Fredrick will be remembered dearly for the love and unwavering support he gave his family, for his deep commitment to the spiritual community of Subud that he was a part of for 50 years, and for his tireless and compassionate volunteer work in our local community. Should you wish, donations may be made in his memory to Rotary International, Subud International, Stillwaters Environmental Center, Coffee Oasis, Flotsam and Jetsam Garden Club or Kingston Cares.
