How do you describe a couple like the Grans?
Keith was born in St Paul, Minnesota, to Ruth and Ted Gran. Tragically, his father was killed in an auto accident when Keith was nine years old. Keith had an older sister. Keith and his family had the honor of representing their State of Minnesota at the 1940 World’s Fair in New York City. Their family won a contest with their local newspaper as the All American Family. This was a tremendous opportunity to spend a week at the Fair and Keith recalls that, while there, he experienced a Coca Cola for the first time. When Keith was a young boy, the family moved to Crawfordsville, Indiana, where he attended both grade school and high school. Keith played the clarinet and marched in a very competitive high school band program.
Marty was born in Salem, Indiana, to Martha and Clarence Branaman. Marty has one older brother. She lived all her childhood in this southern Indiana town. Marty was a drum majorette for Salem High School, which was also a very competitive band program. The two met at Indiana University. In a single word, Marty can be described as sweetness; Keith would be more in the “sense of humor” world.
Keith attended Purdue for two years and then spent two years in the Navy before moving on to Indiana University. Marty was a Hoosier for all of her college career. The couple was married on July 9, 1960 in Salem Christian Church. They will celebrate sixty years of marriage this year.
Keith moved to Indianapolis after graduation to begin his banking career. Initially, he planned to go to work for Indiana National, but opportunities opened at American Fletcher National Bank (AFNB). Keith was named manager of the Glendale Branch in 1959. He worked his way up the ranks and was in Human Resources for most of his 35 years. He retired in 1995 when the bank operated as Bank One.
Marty planned to begin her career as a legal secretary but took a position as high school teacher at Franklin Central High School where she taught for three years. She worked in the Washington Township School District for several years and then ended her career on the top floors of the beautiful AUL Life Insurance building as an executive administrative assistant.
Family has special meaning to Marty and Keith. They were blessed with three children. Brian is a college professor in Cleveland, and their two lovely daughters Theresa Hunt and Susan Michal both live in the Indianapolis area. Theresa worked in advertising, and Susan has always worked in the education field. The Grans have seven grandchildren. Daughter Susan worked with member Cindy Coble and former member Sue McDougall to start the Worship and Wonder education program at ACC. This program has blessed so many young people over the years.
Marty and Keith have both worshipped and served in Indiana Disciples of Christ Christian Churches all their lives. They worshipped at both Eastgate and Southport Christian. When they moved to the Ivy Hills addition, they visited several churches and were warmly welcomed to ACC by Pastor Lloyd Allen and joined in 1967. Over the years, they have served as elders, deacons, and both served one-year terms as Board Chair.
Today, Keith serves on our Stewardship Ministry and Marty continues to be a leader in our Mary Martha Circle. Both Keith and Marty have volunteered at our Regional Office. Keith takes great pride that he and former member Don Born started the ACC Pee Wee Baseball program. This was very successful for many years and brought numerous families every Saturday in the spring season to our back yard. Over the years, soccer has replaced the passion for youth baseball. Today, our former baseball diamonds are gardens that provide fresh produce for people needing help. Marty takes pride in having served on the search committee that called Pastor Diane Spleth to ACC. The Grans moved to Hoosier Village in November of 2018 after living at Geist for 28 years. They are now very comfortable living midway between the homes of their daughters. It’s a longer drive to church, but they continue to come to ACC filled with great faith and love.
