The Foreign Service Journal, May 2015

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | MAY 2015 63 n Norman Lee Achilles, 79, a retired FSO, died on Jan. 27 in Washington, D.C. He had Parkinson’s disease. Mr. Achilles was born in Pittsburgh, Pa., on May 12, 1935, to Christy and Ida Ann Achilles. He received a B.S. in civil engineering from Carnegie Mellon Uni- versity in 1957, an M.A. from the Univer- sity of Edinburgh in 1961 and an MBA fromHarvard University in 1962. He also attended the Foundation Nationale des Sciences Politiques in Paris in 1965 and 1966. Later, Mr. Achilles returned to Harvard and completed a master of public administration degree in 1978. Mr. Achilles joined the Foreign Service in 1963 and served in Vientiane, Hue and Saigon as a political officer. He later served in Japan and Australia as an economic officer, and in France and Washington, D.C. During his Foreign Service career, Mr. Achilles participated in the State Department’s Federal-Private program, serving in a private-sector assignment at IBM’s American Far East Corpora- tion in New York City. There he advised senior managers on issues involving Japan and helped them better under- stand how the State Department oper- ates to help U.S. companies compete in foreign markets. Following retirement in 1994, Mr. Achilles spent a year as a scholar in resi- dence at the WoodrowWilson School at Princeton University, and for many years was a visiting fellow at the Foundation Nationale des Sciences Politiques. He maintained an apartment on the Isle de France in Paris for many years. Mr. Achilles served as a docent at Dumbarton Oaks in Georgetown and loved introducing visitors to the house and gardens. He was a member of the American Foreign Service Association IN MEMORY and a generous supporter of the Senior Living Foundation of the American For- eign Service. Donations in his memory may be made to the Senior Living Foundation, 1716 N Street NW, Washington DC 20036, or to the Sarah Heinz House, 1 Heinz Street, Pittsburgh PA 15212. n Opal Garnet Branch, 100, a retired Foreign Service consular officer, died on Feb. 24. Ms. Branch was born in Marion County, Mo., on March 26, 1914, to Samuel and Della (Pendleton) Branch. She graduated fromMonroe City High School and received a two-year teacher’s certificate. She went on to attend Kirks- ville State Teacher’s College and gradu- ated from Chillicothe Business College. Ms. Branch taught school in Marion County and worked in the private sector in Kansas City, Mo., for several years before entering government service in 1942. From September 1942 to March 1946 she was employed by the War Depart- ment at Fort Riley, Kan., as an assistant to General George S. Patton, and was in charge of the officers’ training courses. While there, she also served as a Red Cross nurse’s aide at the hospital in Junc- tion City, Kan. Ms. Branch accepted a transfer to the Navy Department in San Diego, Calif., as assistant to Admiral Calvin T. Durgin until her appointment to the Foreign Service in December 1946. Her posts abroad included Ankara, London, Oslo, Fukuoka, Tokyo and Paris. Ms. Branch had numerous adventures and met many dignitaries and celebri- ties during her years overseas. She loved traveling by ship and enjoyed dining and dancing on board. She once got lost in the London fog and was rescued by a bobby. While in Norway, she learned to ski and was invited as a special guest to attend the opening of Parliament. Ms. Branch was an active member of Beta Sigma Phi, the international professional and cultural society. While in London, she represented her chapter at the opening ceremony at St. George’s Guild Hall at Kings Lynn, England. She was presented to the mother of Queen Elizabeth II and had her name inscribed on a chair in Guild Hall. In 1961, Ms. Branch was posted to the Department of State, where she served until her retirement from the Foreign Service in 1974. She received the War Department Meritorious Service Award and the State Department Meritorious and Superior Honors Awards. Ms. Branch was involved in vari- ous activities in the Washington area including planning for the annual Cherry Blossom Festival, addressing presidential Christmas cards at the White House and, on several occasions, meeting presidents, first ladies and their guests. Ms. Branch served as vice president of the Missouri Society, was a member of AFSA and the oldest member of DACOR. A deaconess of National City Christian Church, she served on its Welcoming and Reception Committee for many years. Ms. Branch is survived by her sister, Norma Jean King of Urbana, Ill., and 10 nieces and nephews: Hal Callaway of Mesa, Ariz.; Stanley Branch of Normal, Ill.; Eric Branch and Curtis Branch of Peoria, Ill.; Kirby Branch of Indianapo- lis, Ind.; Craig Branch of Haslet, Texas; Melody Drew of Girard, Ill.; Mark King of Sun City West, Ariz.; Kelligay King Crede of Urbana, Ill.; and Matthew King of West Orange, N.J. Memorial gifts in her name may be made to DACOR or National City Chris- tian Church in Washington, D.C.