Daniel Campbell Brawner

Daniel C. Brawner, formerly of Titusville, FL, and a long time resident and native of Pensacola, FL, died peacefully in the company of family and caring staff members at the John Clarke Nursing Home in Middletown, RI, on January 3, 2006. He was born on June 29, 1918, the son of M.O. Brawner and Annie Campbell Brawner of Pensacola, FL, and resided there until joining the Army in 1940. He was the husband of Dorothy Carter Brawner, an Army Nurse in WWII, who predeceased him.Mr. Brawner was the father of Betty Ann Reschenberg of Memphis, TN, and Bonita Jane Slein, wife of Michael J. Slein of Middletown, RI. He was the proud grandfather of four: Erin Strode, wife of Lance Strode; Elyse McMeen, wife of Ben McMeen, all of Memphis; and Caitlin and Kevin Slein of Middletown; and the great grandfather of Anna Strode of Memphis.He also leaves the loving Wolfe family of Pensacola - Robert, Eileen, and their children, Matthew, Katie, Annie, and Patrick, who selflessly shared their lives and home with him for the 20 years he resided in Pensacola at the Azalea Trace Retirement Center.For the last 15 years of his life, Dan enjoyed a loving and fun-filled friendship with his traveling companion and best friend, Jane Sweet, a widow who had been a friend of his wife at the University of Michigan School of Nursing. Jane passed away three months ago in Ann Arbor, Michigan.Mr. Brawner was a standout multi-sport athlete at Pensacola High School Class of 1936, and played both football and basketball at the University of Florida. His schooling was interrupted by World War II, where he served both in the infantry and as a B-26 Marauder pilot. He led bombing missions over Europe throughout the conflict including D-Day over Normandy, for which he was awarded numerous citations to include the Distinguished Flying Cross.He later served in the Korean and Vietnam conflicts, graduated from Temple University and George Washington University, and joined the NASA Kennedy Space Center where he was employed until 1983.For those wishing to remember Dan, a memorial contribution may be made to the Activities Dept. of John Clarke Nursing Center, Valley Road, Middletown, RI 02842, or the United Services Organization USO World Headquarters, Dept. WS, PO Box 96860, Washington, DC 20090-6860.Memorial services and burial are to be held Saturday, January 14, 2006, at 11:30 am at Bayview Memorial Park, Scenic Highway, Pensacola, FL.