OBIT: Rev. Herbert Needham BRANT, 2004, Somerset, Somerset County, PA
  
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  _______________________________________________ 
  
  REV.  HERBERT NEEDHAM BRANT
  
  Rev. Herbert Needham Brant, 98, Somerset, passed away March 31, 2004, at the
  home of his daughter, Helen Joyce Barrett, Somerset.  He was born July 31,
  1905, in McCauca, a son of the late John and Florence (Needham) Brant.  Rev.
  Brant is survived by his wife Edith Mowry Brant, a teacher in the public
  school system of Pennsylvania for 28 years and an active member of the
  Lutheran Church.  Herbert and Edith met at her home parish, Mt. Zion and were
  married in 1935.  This was the first formal wedding at Mt. Zion.  Edith wore a
  full-length white wedding gown, which was unusual for the times.  The
  reception was held at the Oakhurst Tea Room in Somerset.  Herbert and Edith
  have been married for 69 years.  He is also survived by three children:
  Herbert Mowry Brant, Robert James Brant, and Helen Joyce Barrett, six
  grandchildren: Chimene Brant Smith, Todd Brant, Gregory Brant, Gretchen
  LaBatch, Heather Thompson and James Barrett; 10 great-grandchildren: Sydney
  Smith, Abigail Brant, Nathan Brant, Trevor Brant, Thomas Brant, Keith
  Thompson, Diana Thompson, Joseph LaBatch, Heidi LaBatch and Christopher
  Barrett.  Rev. Brant grew up in the Latrobe area and graduated from Latrobe
  High SchooL.  He was an active Lutheran minister for more than 70 years.  He
  knew from an early age that he wanted to serve God and help his fellow man.
  After graduating from Thiel College, Greensville, in 1929 Rev. Brant was
  ordained from the Lutheran Theological Seminary, Philadelphia in 1932.  Out of
  a class of 31, Rev. Brant was selected to minister at Mt. Zion in Donegal.
  Subsequently, he served as minister from 1946 to 1957 at St. John's Burry in
  Rochester and from 1957 to 1975 at Trinity Lutheran Derry.  After retiring in
  1975, Rev. Brant was a regular supply pastor for churches in the Southwestern
  Pennsylvania Lutheran Synod.  Notably, during the last 10 years, he ministered
  at St. Peter's, Monaca, which is the oldest German Lutheran Church in the
  Synod.  In 2001, Rev. Brant was recognized on the 70th anniversary of his
  ordination at the 15th assembly of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod of the
  Evangelical Lutheran Church in America at Thiel College.  In addition to his
  work in the ministry, Rev. Brant was an active member of the community.  He
  was a counselor for 18 years in the early history of Camp Lutherlyn, helping
  develop Christian youths.  He also served as president of both the Kiwanis and
  the Senior Citizen Group of Ellwood City.  When asked what profession he might
  have pursued if he had not become a minister, Rev. Brant responded that he
  would have been a writer and editor as he had so enjoyed his assignments as
  the first editor of the Latrobian and yearbook editor at Thiel College.  In
  addition to writing, Pastor Brant enjoyed working in his gardens and watching
  sports, especially the Atlanta Braves, Duke Basketball and Michael Jordan.
  Friends will be received at the Hartman-Graziano Funeral Home Inc., 1500
  Ligonier St., Latrobe, Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m. and Friday from 2 to 4 and 7
  to 9 p.m. Funeral service will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. in the Trinity
  Evangelical Lutheran Church, Latrobe.  Everyone is asked to please go directly
  to the church.  Interment will follow in Donegal Cemetery, DonegaL. Should
  friends desire, memorial contributions in Rev. Brant's memory may be made to
  In Touch Hospice, 1590 N. Center Ave., Somerset, Pa. 15501.
  
  Daily American, April 1, 2004