Mr. Robert Franklin Branton, Jr., age 55, of West Jefferson passed away Tuesday night, November 25, 2014 at Ashe Memorial Hospital. Funeral services will be held Saturday, November 29, 2014 at 2PM at Boone Family Funeral Home with Rev. Mark Harless officiating with military rites to follow. The family will receive friends on Saturday from 12:00-2:00pm, two hours prior to funeral service. Mr. Branton was born in Riverside, California on December 9, 1958 to Frank and Nancy Woodleif Branton. He worked in sales at Auto Zone. He enjoyed being outside, camping, hunting and scuba diving. He also collected coins. He is survived by his wife, Alice Phillips Branton; a son, Robert Franklin Branton III, of Florida; two daughters, Ashleigh Branton Herke, of West Jefferson and Michelle Johnson, of Oklahoma; his parents, Frank and Nancy Branton, of Florida; a brother, Terry Branton, of Sneads Ferry, NC; a sister, Cherie Sullivan, of Florida; two grandchildren, Seamus Herke and Tamsyn Herke; his two best friends (his dogs) Wallie and Dutch; many nieces and nephews also survive. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the family, c/o Boone Family Funeral Home, PO Box 786, West Jefferson, NC 28694.