‘The end of an era’

DENTON – After more than a half century of helping Caroline countians see more clearly, Drs. Dorothy and Lester Branson will retire on Oct. 31, 2026.

For 57 years, the optometrists have served hundreds of clients at their office, located at 309 Market Street in Denton, continuing a business Dr. Dorothy Billmeier Branson’s grandfather, Dr. Fred Wright, founded in 1903.

“Somebody from the family has been in this building over 100 years,” Dorothy said. Her parents, the late Dr. Alton Billmeier and Dr. Elsie Wright Billmeier, were optometrists who took over the practice in 1939, and she and Dr. Lester Branson began their practice 30 years later.

Caroline County Commission Vice President Larry Porter has been a client since he was a teenager.

“It is the end of an era,” Porter said. “Lester and Dottie have been mainstays. I literally cannot remember a time when they weren't in the community. It's going to be a culture change for a lot of people around here. They are tremendous public servants and very, very dear friends.”

“I've been their patient for a long time, and unfortunately, I'm going to have to find somewhere else to go,” Porter said. “It's going to be very, very difficult.”

The Bransons, who recently celebrated their 61^st wedding anniversary, had no plans to retire a year ago; however, in a Sept. 2 interview, they said simply, “It’s time.”

Their two children, Laura, a teacher, and Michael, an engineer, will not take over the practice, and encouraged their parents to retire. The building will eventually be sold.

“People don’t want us to retire,” Dorothy said. In the past few years, they reduced their office hours to 9 a.m. to noon, Monday to Saturday.

“There are very few single practices anymore,” Lester said, adding that optometrists tend to practice in group settings these days.

Other considerations prompted their decision. “Basically, everybody's on insurance. Used to be it was cash. Now it isn't. Very few are on cash. Everything's in insurance, and it gets harder every year and pays less every year,” Dorothy said.

“It’s a different world,” Lester said of the complexity of insurance and its diminishing returns.

Porter said, “I can't tell you how many times I've called Lester and said, ‘Hey, I’ve got something in my eye.’ He would say, ‘Meet me at the office.’ I mean, you don't get that from large optometry corporations. And I can tell you, I'm not the only one. I've heard a number of people say, ‘Yeah, I got something stuck in my eye, and I called Dr. Branson, and he met me around to the office. I mean, they are wonderful people, absolutely.”

“We thank our clients for being loyal to us and supporting us through the years,” Dorothy said.

One of those clients is Denton native and funeral director Randy Moore of Moore Funeral Home in Denton.

“I've known the Billmeiers all my life,” Moore said. “My father was a childhood friend of Dottie’s uncle, and so the families have always been intertwined.”

“And Dottie and Lester – gosh, I've got drawerfuls of glasses that I've gotten from there,” Moore said, laughing.

While they live in Denton, the couple has a place in Fort Myers, Florida. They also have four grandchildren they hope to see more often.

One of the more rewarding aspects of their work has been working with local Lions Clubs by providing many eye exams to those in need. “I think it’s wonderful that they do that for people,” Lester said.

Their advice for other business owners is the same they have practiced.

“They have to like living here and need to be part of the community,” Dorothy said. “Take an interest in the community and support the different projects and things that the town has.”

Through the years they have served their home town, supporting the annual Summerfest and the flower baskets that line Market Street, for example.

“I served with Lester many years in the fire company,” Porter said. “Lester and I played a lot of golf together, and of course, he has served as a town commissioner for a number of years and given a lot to this county. Dottie has served in a number of different capacities.”

Moore and Dr. Lester served together on the Denton Town Council 30 years ago. Moore praised him for his contributions to the community, including Dr. Lester’s 56-year membership in Denton Volunteer Fire Company, where he served as president for a time.

“He's probably the longest serving town (council) member that I know of. He's a font of information for them,” Moore said. Lester has served nearly 40 years on the Council and is currently a member.

“Lester takes his profession very seriously. He doesn't take himself very seriously. He laughs at himself, which I think is always a good thing in this town. If you can't laugh yourself, you're going to be pretty miserable,” Moore said.

“I can't imagine Denton without their contributions,” he said. “They've been wonderful.”