Hershel “Wayne” Bratton of Malden passed away on November 30, 2011 after a long and courageous battle with colon cancer. He was 88 years old.
Hershel was born and raised in Banks, Arkansas. He enlisted in the United States Navy at the age of 17 and served his country for the next 23 years. Hershel is one of the few survivors of the Pearl Harbor attack that reside in Massachusetts. He worked at MIT and retired in 1988 after 25 years. In his retirement years he enjoyed sports, reading and spending time with his family.
Hershel was the beloved husband of the late Lucille (Rosti) Bratton. He was the devoted father of Maria Giangregorio and her husband Mark of Malden and Wayne Bratton of Malden. Hershel was the loving and proud papa of Nicole Giangregorio. He was brother of Billy Lee Bratton of Texas, Sarah Humble of Arkansas, Jimmy Bratton of Arkansas and Gordon Andrew Bratton of Arkansas and the late Gaylon Bratton. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial in the Immaculate Conception Church, 600 Pleasant Street, Malden on Monday, December 5th at 10:30 a.m. Visitation will be held at the A. J. Spadafora Funeral Home, 865 Main Street, Malden on Monday from 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. prior to the Mass. Entombment will be in Holy Cross Mausoleum, Malden.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Hershel’s memory may be made to the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen Street, Framingham, MA 01701.