He was born Sept. 10, 1924 in Westville, Illinois, to the late Ralph and Mary Jenkins Browning. He also was preceded in death by his stepmother, Florence Nelson Browning; grandson, David Gold and great-grandson David Mallory.
He is survived by his wife, Melba Browning; daughter, Sheila Gold, and her husband, Bill; three stepsons, Phil and Steve Cantrell of Texas and Dusty Cantrell of Douglasville; granddaughters, Margaret Gold and Gina Mallory; step-grandchildren, Tyler Cantrell, Jake Cantrell, Kelly Freelen, Kristy Findley and Tara Waldlington; four great-grandchildren; four step-great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; five brothers-in-law, Till, Bill, Tom, Gary and Ronnie Archer of Texas and two nieces, Melanie Fiolkoski of Colorado and Marta Symes of Texas.
He was a ball turret gunner in the U.S. Army Air Corps in World War II, doing 32 bombing missions over Germany, Belgium, France and Holland. For this bravery in service, he received the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star with one oak leaf cluster; Purple Heart; Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters; Presidential Unit Citation with one oak leaf cluster; Good Conduct; European Theatre with three major battle stars; European Victory and American Theatre.
He was born Sept. 10, 1924 in Westville, Illinois, to the late Ralph and Mary Jenkins Browning. He also was preceded in death by his stepmother, Florence Nelson Browning; grandson, David Gold and great-grandson David Mallory.
He is survived by his wife, Melba Browning; daughter, Sheila Gold, and her husband, Bill; three stepsons, Phil and Steve Cantrell of Texas and Dusty Cantrell of Douglasville; granddaughters, Margaret Gold and Gina Mallory; step-grandchildren, Tyler Cantrell, Jake Cantrell, Kelly Freelen, Kristy Findley and Tara Waldlington; four great-grandchildren; four step-great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; five brothers-in-law, Till, Bill, Tom, Gary and Ronnie Archer of Texas and two nieces, Melanie Fiolkoski of Colorado and Marta Symes of Texas.
He was a ball turret gunner in the U.S. Army Air Corps in World War II, doing 32 bombing missions over Germany, Belgium, France and Holland. For this bravery in service, he received the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star with one oak leaf cluster; Purple Heart; Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters; Presidential Unit Citation with one oak leaf cluster; Good Conduct; European Theatre with three major battle stars; European Victory and American Theatre.
Inscription
SSG
USAAF
WORLD WAR II
DFC BSM AM
401 BG-615 SQD
B17 BALLTURRET
ELMER'S TURRET
Family Members
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