Browning Thomas, 83, resident of Ocoee, Tennessee, passed away Tuesday, November 12, 2019, at Bradley Healthcare in Cleveland. Browning grew up in Benton, Tennessee, and was the son of Allen Pearson Thomas and Lena Stepp Thomas. He was a 1956 graduate of Polk County High School. Browning joined the U.S. Army in 1958 and completed Basic Training at Ft. Jackson, South Carolina. That same year, 1958, a young lady from Conasauga, Tennessee, Virginia Lee Patterson, caught Browning’s eye, and he and Virginia were married in December of 1958.
Browning, Virginia and their four children, Larry, Cheryl, Carol and Ramona, were able to see the world and many of its wonders through Browning’s military service. While in the Army, he was stationed at such places as France, Germany, Thailand, Vietnam and the Panama Canal Zone, not to mention the U.S. bases he/they were stationed at. The family traveled with him to Germany, Thailand and the Panama Canal Zone, and many U.S. Army bases.
Browning loved the Army, and some of the medals and awards he received while in the military were the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal and many more. He retired from the Army as a Master Sargent in 1979, and he and Virginia resided in Ocoee. He took on a second career at Tri State Truss in Cleveland. Browning and Virginia attended Shiloh Baptist Church in Ocoee. It is important to note that during his life, he and Virginia showed their children and others, that we are truly blessed through the grace and love of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Browning was preceded in death by his wife, Virginia; his parents; and his brothers and sisters.
He is survived by his children, Larry B. Bush and wife Sandra, of Chickamauga, Georgia, Cheryl Lynn Holloway and husband Randall, of Ocoee, Carol Lane Edwards and husband Keith, of Cleveland and Ramona Ann Jordan and husband David, of Benton; grandchildren, Nathan Hixson, Keith Hixson, Amanda Wells, Chris Ledford, Samuel T. Bush, Justin T. Ledford, Alex Kachold and Aaron Kachold; great-grandchildren, Kallie Hixson, Kambree Hixson, Micah Wells, Lila Ledford and Ellie Wells.
You are encouraged to share a memory of Browning and/or your personal condolences with his family by visiting his memorial webpage and guestbook at www.companionfunerals.com. Companion Funeral Home and the Cody family were honored to assist the Thomas family with these arrangements.