John R. Browning

John R. Browning passed away April 17, 2021, in his favorite spot sitting at the kitchen table watching the birds outside. John was born February 8, 1930, to Norman and Margaret (Richards) Browning in Guernsey County. John graduated from New Philadelphia High School in 1947. He served his country with the US Army (1952-1954) in Austria assigned to the Headquarters Detachment of the 430 C.I.C. He was a proud member of the Masons for over 50 years, serving as Grand Master twice.

He was a devoted husband to Norma (Johnson/survives him) for seventy-two years and a loving father to John Richard (JB), Jean, Mary, and Paul (recently deceased). John had a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. He was loved and beloved by his brothers: Norman (Buck), Edward (Ed), Eugene (Gene), and Carl (all deceased). He is survived by his sister, Karen (Joseph) Pace, and a gaggle of nieces and nephews whom he treated as his own.

Born of straitened means, he was raised to value hard work, personal industry, and self-sufficiency. John was a man of simple tastes, and he always attended to the needs of family before his own. He respected honesty and was forthright and direct about calling things the way he saw them – a rose was a rose, but horse manure was horse**** – regardless of the source. Those who knew John respected his judgement, sought out and valued his opinions, and were entertained by his sense of humor.

He enjoyed telling stories from his life experiences and many enjoyed hearing them – whether about canning peaches and neatly stacking them with his mother (Buck and Ed had jobs), washing the outhouse down on wash day (“Even in the winter, too damn often.”), unloading boxcars full of manganese (had the gnarled fingers from hitting the side of the boxcar to prove it), or the value of a good poking stick for a bonfire – John was an entertaining orator.

In keeping with his wishes, John was cremated on April 22, 2021, and he directed there be no public service or calling hours. A special thank you is extended to Judy Johnson who was a pillar of strength for John and JB during this time.

John was a force to be reckoned with while playing euchre, so may his family and friends all give a final “Euchy Deuchy!” in his honor.

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