Ralph H. Browning

BURLESON -- Ralph H. Browning has departed this life to begin eternal life with his Lord. He passed away Friday, Nov. 18, 2005, at a Fort Worth hospital after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer. Memorial service: 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Burleson Church of Christ. Visitation: 6 to 9 p.m. Monday at Mountain Valley Funeral Home in Burleson. Ralph was born March 17, 1923, in Waco, the son of Earl William Browning and Emma Julia Summerlin. He grew up in Houston and attended the University of Houston. He married Mary Della Thompson June 26, 1943, in Corpus Christi and had resided in Burleson since 1965. Mary and Ralph were married for 58 years before her death in 2002. From that union came four children, Della Sue, Ralph Jr., James Earl and Robert Wade. Ralph joined the Coast Guard at the onset of World War II and served in the Pacific. During his 21 years of Coast Guard service he rose to the rank of E9 Master Chief, one of less than 10 in the Coast Guard at that time. He was stationed at such locations as Okinawa; Ketchikan, Alaska; St. Louis, Mo.; New Orleans, La.; and in Texas at Port Aransas, Corpus Christi and Galveston. After retiring from the Coast Guard, Ralph worked for 16 years at Bell Helicopter. Ralph was a faithful member of the Burleson Church of Christ for the past 40 years, where he had many cherished friends. He also served for many years with dear friends in the Briaroaks Volunteer Fire Department. Survivors: He is survived by his daughter, Della Browning Barron and husband, Timothy of Plano; sons, Ralph H. Browning Jr. and wife, Pamela of Brownwood, James E. Browning of Joshua and Robert W. Browning and wife, Cheryl of Burleson; grandchildren, Ralph H. Browning III and wife, Mindy, Jenny Darley, James Ellis Browning and wife, Heather, Lora Lee Johnson and husband, James and David Austin Browning; great-grandchildren, Madison, Joshua, Jasmine, Kara Lynn and Emma; brothers, Charles Browning and wife, Magda of Middleburg, Fla., Fred Browning and wife, Robin of New Braunfels; sister, Charlotte Wicker and husband, Wayne of Burleson; 14 nieces and nephews; and many dear friends.