Edmund Simmons Browning, of Summerville, was reunited in Heaven with his dear wife, January 23, 2009 in Walterboro.

Born in New Hope Community, SC, he was a son of the late Stephen Edward Browning and Laura Victoria Smith Browning and was the baby of eleven brothers and sisters.

Mr. Browning attended Berkeley Co. Schools and joined and served in the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1938 in Hunting Island, SC and Tula Lake, CA. He joined the U.S. Coast Guard in 1939 and was a Chief Engineer aboard the U.S.S. Nemisis and U.S.S. Leonardwood.

He was in seven invasions during World War II, accompanying Gen. Dwight Eisenhower during the invasion of Sicily and General George McArthur in the Marshall Islands. He returned from the U. S. Coast Guard with the rank Chief Warrant Officer 4 after 32 years. He then worked in the Civil Service for the Veterans Administration Hospital in Charleston for 18 years where he served as an Engineer. He was a member of Bethany United Methodist Church in Summerville, N.A.R.F.E., C.C.C.S., and USS Leonardwood alumni. He was also a member of the V.F.W.

Edmund was married for 57 years to Marian Bivens Browning of Givhans. He met her at camp meeting services at Cypress Campgrounds in 1938. He proposed to her on the first date, and they were married when he came home for one week during WWII, and that was August 18, 1943. He left for duty on U.S.S. Leonardwood the next day and did not return for eleven months. He resided at Wesley Commons in Greenwood, SC, where he was one of the first residents to become a part of the assisted living facility.

Mr. Browning thoroughly loved his life and the treatment he received from the outstanding individuals who worked at Wesley Commons. His last eleven months were spent at the Veterans Victory House in Walterboro.

"My dad was an angel among angels. He was denied a parental upbringing due to the early death of his parents. He was cared for by his older brothers and sisters. He left home early to serve his country and truly believed his one goal was to be the best serviceman to his country because he loved America. He loved his family and his in-laws were most fortunate to have him for a son. Few family members will take in their spouse's family members and care for them as their own. He loved his wife without a doubt and many times over his last years, his one story was meeting Marian and the love that they shared. He loved Marian more than life itself. Now they are reunited."

He was the widower of Marian Bivens Browning and is survived by one daughter, Cheryl Almeria Browning of Greenwood; one sister, Kathleen Browning Campbell of Orangeburg; numerous nieces and nephews, cousins of his wife, Marian, who were so devoted and loyal to him during his loss of Marian; close friends, Homer and Virginia Lipham of Summerville, the Kramer and Adkins families of Illinois; Eartha Charlton, who was a part of the family for over 50 years, of Summerville; Dianne Nettles, who is loyal friend, of Summerville; and last of all, the extended family in Greenwood and Ninety-Six who kept the faith with Cheryl.

He was predeceased by his parents, six brothers, and three sisters.