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Jean Branch, 75
June 12, 1936-May 7, 2012

Jean Branch, 75, of Bloomington, passed away on May 7, 2012. She was born on June 
12, 1936, in Augusta, Arkansas, where she was raised by her grandparents. After graduating 
from high school she attended Louisiana State University and earned a B.A. in Music in 1960. 
She received a scholarship to Indiana University to study voice and opera performance and 
graduated in 1964 with a Master in Music (voice). Jean sang the roles of Pam in a in Mozart's 
Zauberflote and Helena in Brittin's A Midsummer Night's Dream with the IU Opera. She also 
sang in numerous concerts as well and was a member of the Friday Musicale organization.
During her studies at IU she met Martha Lipton. They became close friends and Jean took 
care of Martha until her death in November of2006. She held the position of Undergraduate 
Advisor at the IU Department of History from 1971 to 2001. Jean was an avid animal lover and 
was quite active in the local ASPCA.
She is survived by her longtime friends Marian Krajewska (Mrs. Earl O. Bates), Sister 
Laurette Bellamy, Herbert Kuebler, Phil Evans, B.J. Irvine, Charles Railsback of Bloomington 
and David, Vita, and Anna Rose Brailow of Franklin, IN as well as Jean's adopted family 
Stephen & Ana Bates and daughter Sienna also Steve and Adrienne Bates-Brown and children 
Avery, Allison and Julian. Special thanks to Terry Sprinkle and the staff of Bell Trace and to the 
IMA and IU Health Hospital Oncology personnel.
Donations may be made to the local animal shelter.
Visitation will be held Friday May 11, 2012 from 2:00PM until 4:00PM at Allen Funeral Home 4155 South Old highway 37. A brief service will be conducted at 4:00PM also at Allen Funeral Home. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.allenfuneralhome.org