Richard Brandenburg

Mr. Richard “Brandy” Taft Brandenburg 76, passed away at Edenton Retirement Community on March 23, 2012. He was the husband of the late Nancy V. Moats Brandenburg who passed away on June 3, 2011.

He was the son of the late William Howard Taft and Helen Gertrude Shoemaker Brandenburg. Brandy was born on August 26, 1935 at Frederick Memorial Hospital. He graduated from Frederick High School, Class of 1953.

He started working at Camp (later Fort) Detrick in June of 1954 as a Biological Laboratory Technician. He transferred to the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute in Bethesda, MD in March of 1970. Brandy retired from AFRRI in September, 1993 as a Senior Biological Laboratory Technician with more than 39 years of dedicated service in the Department of Defense. Richard received many awards and commendations while at the AFFRI. He had been employed by Stauffer Funeral Homes, P.A. for more than 20 years at the time of his death.

He is survived by his daughter Debra L. Driesonstok and husband, John, of Walkersville, son, Steven Taft Brandenburg and wife, Jennifer of Frederick, five grandsons, John Dustin, Daniel Jacob and wife,  Jessica and Joseph Dylan Driesonstok, Cody Taft and Chase Anthony Brandenburg and great granddaughter McKenzie J. Driesonstok. He is also survived by a sister, Sandra J. Norland and husband, Jerome F., of Michigan, several nieces, nephews and cousins. Brandy was predeceased by a son, Brian Taft, on January 10, 1977.

Brandy was a Life Member of the Independent Hose Co. #1, having joined in 1960. He had held several offices including Hose Director, Lieutenant, Director, Assistant Secretary and Secretary in the IHC #1. He was a certified Emergency Medical Technician and worked for Frederick County as an EMT out of the IHC for many years. Dick was a former member of the Boy Scouts, a member of the Frederick Chapter Order of DeMolay. Brandy was formerly a member of the Junior Fire Co. #2 and the Citizens Truck Co. #4 of Frederick.

Richard was an avid bird watcher (especially of hawks), reader and Sudoku puzzle player. He was a longtime Redskins fan. He never took life too seriously and could easily and quickly laugh at himself.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday March 27, 2012 from 3-5 & 7-9pm at the Stauffer Funeral Home, 1621 Opossumtown Pike, Frederick, where funeral services will be held at 11:00am on Wednesday March  28, 2012 in the funeral home chapel. Rev. Timothy May and Rev. Burnis D. Barrett will officiate. Interment will follow in Resthaven Memorial Gardens, Frederick. Pallbearers will be Ray Peterson, Roger Miller, Robert Hogan, Jr., Jack Fleischman, Larry Wenschhof and his son Steve Brandenburg. Honorary bearers will be his grandsons, Cody and Chase Brandenburg and Dustin, Daniel and Joseph Dreisonstok.

Please, by his wishes, omit flowers, instead, make contributions in his, Nancy and Brian’s names to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN.  38105.

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