Earle Ward Browning, 93, of Panama City, passed away on December 5, 2016. He was born March 5, 1923 in Muncie, Indiana to Ray V. Browning and Lois M. (Vayhinger) Browning.  He graduated from Rising Sun High School in 1940 and Central Business College (Indianapolis) in 1942.  He married Freda Mae (Cofield) Browning in 1942, a 40-year marriage until her death in 1983.  Earle served in World War II in the 320 ^th Combat Engineer Battalion of the 95 ^th Division from 1943 to 1945, where he was wounded in the Battle of Metz in France for which he received the Purple Heart. He worked for the IRS for 33 years, with the last 20 years as an Appellate Conferee, retiring in 1978. Earle was the Secretary/ Treasurer for the 320 ^th Engineer Battalion Association for over 20 years.  He taught an adult Sunday School class at Woodlawn United Methodist Church on Panama City Beach for 30 years. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Phil A. Browning and a sister, Miriam R. Harris.  He is survived by a daughter, Suzanne B. Hinkle (Todd); 2 granddaughters and 3 great- grandchildren.  He married Billie Jean Browning in 1986 and embraced her family of 3 children, 9 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.  That 29-year marriage was ended by her death in 2015. Funeral services will be held on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. in the Wilson Funeral Home Chapel.  The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Saturday from 1-2:30 prior to the service. Burial will be held in Indianapolis, Indiana at a later date.