Walter K. Browning

It is with answered prayers and broken hearts we announce the passing of Walter Kirkham Browning, 87, formerly of Ellicott City, Maryland. Loving husband of Joyce Inman Browning, he departed this life and went to meet the Lord on Sunday, August 28, 2016 at his beloved Cross Keys Village-The Brethren Home Community following a brief illness.

Born June 7, 1929 in Baltimore Maryland, Walt was a proud Baltimore Native. He was the son of the late Howard J and Margaret Kirkham Browning. He was also preceded in death by two daughters, Melissa and Margaret; a son, Walter Kirkham Jr.; five brothers, Howard J. Jr, John F, Jerome, Adam, and Melvin Browning and a devoted sister, Melba Flack.

Walt was a veteran of the United States Air Force. He served as Staff Sergeant on Okinawa and in Alaska. Walt met the love of his life, Joyce, in Charlotte, NC, and they were married November 1, 1952. While raising their family, Walt was employed as a Store Manager of Food Fair / Pantry Pride for over 28 years working in stores throughout Baltimore and surrounding counties. In 1981, Walt’s dream of owning his own business came true when he opened Browning’s Small Engine Repair & Sales in Ellicott City, MD.

A member of the Maryland Boys Choir as a young man, he had a beautiful voice and sang in church choirs whenever he had the opportunity. He loved people and was very active in the community including Howard County 4-H clubs, teaching Small Engine Repair classes at Howard Community College, and volunteer work at the local polls on Election Day. Walt and Joyce were members of Rockland United Methodist Church in Ellicott City where they enjoyed mission trips; Red Bird and Henderson’s Settlement in Kentucky and Costa Rica. It was well known that Walt was gifted and could fix anything! Therefore, he enjoyed volunteering his time fixing things for friends and family.

An outdoorsman, he loved boating and fishing so in 1997 retiring to a lake front property on Lake Gaston NC was a dream come true! Making friends wherever he would go, Walt’s Lake friends continued to stay in touch when he and Joyce moved back North to be close to family. They resided in Biglerville, PA and were blessed to find and join their new church home, Gettysburg Church of the Brethren. This loving church relationship pointed them to their final move to Cross Keys Village-The Brethren Home Community in 2014.

Walt loved living at Cross Keys. He joined the woodshop, did volunteer work including taking wheel chair bound residence fishing at the community pond and working in the garden assisting his wife with the vegetables. He was skilled with his hands and creative with his mind; crafting baskets out of wood, making Tin Man yard ornaments out of recycled cans and giving away gifts of the heart. He always kept busy. If Joyce had a dream, then he would make it come true. Walt Browning enjoyed life to the fullest!

In addition to his wife Joyce, of nearly 64 years, he is survived by four daughters, Beverly Goering and her husband Bill of Clarksville, MD, Melba Phipps of Columbia, MD, Mary C. Ogle and her husband Doug of Clear Springs, MD and Terry Davidson and her husband John of Sykesville, MD; eleven grandchildren, Michael Denson, Celena Darragh, Christine Thomas, Charles ”Fred” Phipps, Andy Ogle, John German, Catey German, Larry Stirn, Jr. , Stephanie Stirn, John Kirkham Davidson and Marilyn Davidson; eight great-grand-children; Justin Denson, Brandon Darragh, Haley Sullivan, Jordan, Kennie and Wesley Thomas, Larry and Wyatt Stirn; a niece, Margaret Browning Lyburn; great niece, Nicole Anders and great nephew, Randy Browning.

A memorial service will be held at 1pm on September 10, 2016 at the Nicarry Meetinghouse, 2990 Carlisle Pike, New Oxford, PA 17350 with Pastor Dick Godfrey officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Gettysburg Church of the Brethren, 1710 Biglerville Road, Gettysburg, PA 17325.