On August 29, 2020, Richard "Dick" E. Brinson, 94 yrs. old passed peacefully into the arms of his Lord and Savior in Huntsville, AL.

Following proper COVID-19 safe practices, funeral services will be restricted to immediate family members only at Herr Funeral Home in Collinsville, IL, on September 14 ^th at 10 am with Pastors Richard A. Brinson (son) and Dr. David King (grandson-in-law) officiating. Burial will follow at JeffersonBarracksCemetery, St. Louis, MO.

Dick was born in East St. Louis, IL to John W. and Emma Jane Brinson on October 23, 1926. He swooned the love of his life, Betty Nadine "Dean" Brinson by using his infamous, "My big toe loves your big toe" line while wading their feet in a pond on a date. Concluding that her big toe had mutual feelings, they were married on August 28, 1948. Much like his parents had modeled for him, he and Dean placed God at the forefront of their marriage and enjoyed 72 years together.

Bravely wanting to answer the call to assist during WWII before he was of legal age to do so, he obtained parental authorization to join the Navy where he served as a QMC3 on the USS Terror, which at one point was struck by a Japanese kamikaze plane resulting in the death of many of Dick's friends. While serving, he was recognized for his heroic actions when standing guard over a lifeboat of deceased Marines at night, he very faintly heard the voice of someone calling out, "Help me". Dick quickly responded back indicating his promise to help, fumbling through the bodies until he reached the young Marine, still alive. Dick stayed with him all night until the morning hours when he was able to obtain additional medical assistance, thus resulting in the Marine's life being saved. Upon returning home, he continued his dedication to being a hard worker and was employed as a Train Master at Norfolk and Southern Railroad until he retired. When he did get to enjoy some free time, you could find him spending time with his family, playing golf-carrying his clubs across the entire 18-hole course because, "you don't need no stinkin' cart to carry them you wuss", or baking homemade pies from scratch. As a young man, he thoroughly enjoyed spending time at the track working the horses and spending time with two of his brothers who were jockeys. While he had aspirations of potentially following in their footsteps, those were short-lived, as his wife Dean explained ever so warmly, "Babe, it's the horses or me."

"So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three, but the greatest of these is love." 1 Corinthians 13:13

Dick modeled this verse throughout his life, sharing Christ's love with all he came into contact. Though a small man in stature, he had the biggest heart. As a member of various Southern Baptist Churches over the course of his life, he rarely missed attending church and took great pleasure in sharing his God-given talents through singing.

Dick was preceded in death by his parents, John W. and Emma Jane Brinson, eight siblings: Thelma Pepper (sister), Bernadine Johnston (sister), Bernice Barnhardt (sister), Winnafford Brinson (sister), Wendell Brinson (brother), John Brinson (brother), Bill Brinson (brother), Ruthie Dour (Sister), Derek Jackson (grandson), and Addy York (great-granddaughter).

Left to cherish his memory are his family members: Betty Nadine Brinson (wife), Mike and Vicki Brinson (son and daughter-in-law), Richard A. and Carol Brinson (son and daughter-in-law), Skip and Rebecca Jackson (son-in-law and daughter), Beth Ann Nodine (daughter), eight grandchildren and their spouses, over fifteen great-grand-children, and numerous nieces and nephews.