Rockwell Smith Brank

Rockwell Smith Brank, age 89, of Wainwright, died early Sunday morning, March 4, 2007 in the Ohio State University Medical Center. Brank, widely known for his oil-on-canvas paintings depicting maritime and coastal scenes, was born December 19, 1917, at Summit, New Jersey, to the late Rockwell Smith Brank, and his wife, Virginia Roberts Cox Brank. Rocky’s family includes his wife of fifty-two years, the former Ruth Keffer, who now resides at Dover, and their three daughters; Tricia Brank of Toledo, Ohio, Gwen (husband Walter) Welker of Akron, Ohio, and Stephanie (husband Roderick) Leupp of Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Three grandchildren, William Welker of Akron, and Rebecca and Emily Leupp of Bartlesville, Oklahoma complete the family. In addition to his parents, a sister, Ruth Kneisel, and a brother, Charles Cox Brank, are deceased. Friends are invited to call Thursday from 1 PM to 3 PM in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia. Dr. Fred Wallis will lead the Brank funeral Thursday at 3PM in the funeral home’s chapel. Cremation will follow with burial in Evergreen Burial Park. Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice.