David R. Braine

David Ralph Braine, 97, of 431 Sand Hill Road, Pequea, PA, died peacefully at home surrounded by family following a period of declining health. Born in Enon Valley, PA, he moved at an early age to Grove City, PA, where he attended public school and graduated from Grove City High School. The last surviving child of Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Scott Braine, he was the eighth of eleven siblings (Herbert, Arthur, Walter, Ella [Winder], John, Edna [Wygant], Harvey, Paul, Tom, and Mary [McCarl]). A talented athlete, he enjoyed high school sports, playing football, wrestling, and running track. With the entrance of the United States into World War II he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Forces, serving in the European Theater. After the war he returned to Grove City, where he worked for his father's excavating company, which he eventually took over. He did many projects in the area, including major excavating and landscaping work at Grove City College, where he also coached wrestling. In 1946 he married Beatrice Graham, with whom he had seven children. After her death in 1980, he continued working until retirement, eventually moving to Pequea, where he lived with his daughter Linda and her family. There he was able to indulge his passion for gardening and spoiling his grandchildren. He is survived by his children: Jeannette Braine-Sperry of Seneca, SC; Walter G. Braine of Union Hall, VA; Peggy Latimer of Concord, NH; Marian Ressler of Lutz, FL; Marilyn Sulka of Wadsworth, OH; Michael Braine of Spring, TX; and Linda Eshleman of Pequea, PA. His descendants also include twelve grandchildren and one great-grandchild. A private service and interment will be held in Slippery Rock, PA, at a later time. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the missions charity HarvestNet International at 66 Clay School Road, Ephrata PA 17522 or on its website harvestnetinternational.com.