He was born Oct. 15, 1942, in Oakland, Md., to Cheston Browning, Jr., and Kathleen Markwood Browning. He passed away peacefully with his wife and children by his side. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Earldean, and his son Mark, and son, Scott and daughter-in-law, Alice, who all tended him in his final days. He is also survived by sisters, Jacqueline Smith of Naples, Fl., and Helen Maphis, Winchester, Va., three grandchildren: Laura Huffaker, Douglas Butner and Julia Browning, two great-grandsons, and many nieces, nephews and cousins who all adored him. He was preceded in death by his parents and his only brother, Ed. He and Earldean were the owners of Tommy’s Market, Cumberland, Md., and lived in Cumberland until his retirement to Florida.
1961 He graduated from The Mercersburg Academy in Mercersburg, Pa. 1961-1972 Got supermarket education by working in all departments of family-owned supermarket in Oakland, Md. 1972-1977 General Manager of Browning’s Oakland Market. 1977-1981 Vice President in charge of corporate development for Browning’s, Inc. 1981-1991 Bought and operated Tommy’s Market, Cumberland, Md. 1987 Won the 1987 Wetterau Contract Store of the year Award for overall excellence. A graduate and instructor of the Dale Carnegie Course. A graduate of American Management’s Advance course in Executive Management Completed FMI Supermarket Research and Development Course. Served as a Board Member and Executive Director of the Mid Atlantic Food Dealers’ Association of Baltimore, Md. Past President, Secretary, and Director of the Foodland Markets Retailer Association, Belle Vernon, Pa. Served as Director of the First Federal Savings Bank of Western Maryland. Served as a Trust Officer and Lay Board Advisor at Sacred Heart Hospital, Cumberland, Md. Past president of the Oakland Rotary Club, Oakland, Md. A member of the Cumberland, Md. Antique Car Club. A member of the Silverthorn Golf Club, Spring Hill, Fl.
Sonny loved to bowl and golf and in his life time scored a hole-in-one three times! From the time he was a teenager, he loved music and was in a barbershop choral group and sang tenor in a barbershop quartet named the Ritz Chords for many years. Sonny never met a stranger and was beloved by all who knew him. Please remember him with smiles and laughter.
Services are incomplete at this time.
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