Walter Branch Sr. realized education was a must if black children were to succeed.

In his native Alabama, he played a role in the civil rights movement, notably the integration of public schools.  He was a high school principal in Bessemer when black children took part in their first protest against segregation. His students were among the hundreds jailed for taking part in the 1963 "Children's Crusade."

"He was involved in that firsthand," said Walter J. Stanley IIIof Atlanta. "He knew that only through education and proper integration would children have a better life."

After serving as a teacher and principal of several Bessemer schools,  Mr. Branch moved his family to Atlanta in 1968.  He was a programs director for the Southeastern Educational Laboratory, a federal program. He eventually became a specialist in school desegregation for the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, now called Department of Health and Human Services.

"My father was a very busy man who had a lot of involvement in the community," said his daughter, Iris Branch Clevelandof Atlanta. "For him, it was a given that you involve yourself in as much of a service-oriented way as possible."

On Feb. 28, Dr. Walter Dewey Branch Sr. of Atlanta died from congestive heart failure at his home. He was 83. The funeral will be held at noon Monday at Cascade United Methodist Church. Murray Brothers Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Branch was the youngest of nine children born in Dixon Mills, Ala. After graduation from high school, he joined the Air Force. He used the GI Bill to earn a bachelor's degree in education at Miles College, a master's degree from Alabama State University and a doctoral degree from the University of Alabama.

After earning his Ph.D, the educator turned down a job offer as director of schools in Bessemer. By then, he and his wife, the late Evelyn Tubbs, had two children. The couple moved to Atlanta where they thought more opportunities awaited their children.

After working as a desegregation specialist, Dr. Branch joined the Social Security Administration. He retired in 1987 as manager of the Southeast Atlanta branch office.

Through the years, he also was a part-time  professor at Georgia State, a MARTA board member and an entrepreneur.

He founded and operated two duty-free shops and two kiosks at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. Mr. Stanley and his wife, Ivenue, owners of the Atlanta architect firm Stanley, Love-Stanley, worked on his airport operations.

"He had the most formidable concessions at the airport, and he was able to juggle that ball while still employed as a director for Social Security," Mr. Stanley said. "He was an early client of ours and made a way for us to do the work we are doing at Hartsfield-Jackson."

In 2000, Dr. Branch was appointed to the MARTA board. The educator tried to ensure that fares were aligned with what the common man could afford, among other issues.

"He brought his education experience and government experience to the board," said Amos Beasley, a former MARTA board member. "He was a reliable board member."

Dr. Branch's wife, Evelyn, died in 1996.  Coretta Scott King was his wife's first cousin.

Additional survivors include a son, Dr. Walter Dewey Branch Jr.of Augusta, and five grandchildren.