Gilbert Lionel Brandon, 80, a retired Air Force major who later worked at Westinghouse Electric Corp. as a senior engineering
analyst, died of cancer Oct. 19, 2205 at his home in Ocean City.
A native of Falls Church, he graduated from Western High School in 1943. During his school years, he worked in Washington
as a Western Union bicycle messenger. On his 18th birthday, he entered the armed services as had his father and two brothers
before him.
Serving in the Army during World War II, he saw duty in the Asiatic Pacific theater. He was discharged from the Army with the rank
of corporal in 1946, and he worked briefly in Washington while attending George Washington University. He reenlisted in the Air
Force in 1947, entered Officer Candidate School and obtained his commission as a second lieutenant.
In the Air Force, he specialized in radio electronics and intelligence. His duty included serving for a year in Korea, where as part
of the 6004th Air Intelligence Service Squadron he was one of several experts who went to Kimpo Air Base near Seoul to
examine a Russian MiG-25 that had been flown in by a defecting North Korean pilot.
On his return to the United States, he was assigned to the Pentagon with the office of the assistant chief of staff for intelligence
for four years. He also attended the University of Maryland and received a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering.
His final duty station was at Griffiss Air Force Base, N.Y. For five years there, he was part of the Rome Air Development Center
and involved in research and development of the fledgling AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) radar technology.
He retired in 1965 with the rank of major and moved with his family to Laurel. He joined Westinghouse at Friendship Airport --
now Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport -- and continued with the civilian side of the AWACS program
until his retirement in 1991.
His marriage to Constance Murray Brandon ended in divorce.
He enjoyed travel, especially to Hawaii; photography, especially panoramas; and family genealogy.
Survivors include his wife of 21 years, Madeline Teaman Brandon of Ocean City; four children from his first marriage, Barry
Keane of Seattle, Sally Brandon of Laurel, Holly Brandon of Fort Washington and Bruce Brandon of Laurel; three stepchildren,
Brian Teaman and Barbara Teaman, both of Monroeville, Pa., and Terry Teaman of Orlando; nine grandchildren; and five
great-grandchildren.