Ionia-Montcalm County MI Archives Obituaries.....Brown, Ralph Webster Sr. 2006 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Marilyn Ransom mlnransom@chartermi.net August 13, 2010, 2:25 pm The Ionia Sentinel-Standard, Friday, September 8, 2006 Ralph Webster Brown Sr., age 90, went home to live with The Lord surrounded by his loving family, Wednesday September 6, 2006 at his home in Greenville. Mr. Brown was born January 25, 1916 in Windber, Pennsylvania to Otto Webster Brown and Esther Mary Topper. His mother died of tuberculosis when he was 5 years old. He had 3 sisters, one brother, and two half sisters. He lived in Pennsylvania until the age of 18 when he came to Detroit, Michigan seeking employment. He married Bertha Ellen Blough on November 28, 1934 in Detroit, Michigan and they had 5 children. He honorably served in the United States Navy in World War II, leaving three children and his wife at home. They lived in the Berkeley, Michigan area for many years and moved to Orleans, Michigan upon his retirement in 1980. Mr. Brown was employed all his life as a Master Four Color Photo Engraver working on such prestigious publications as The National Geographic Magazine. He loved baseball and coached many little league teams. He always stayed physically active, enjoying gardening, hunting, fishing and golf. After retiring in 1980 he dedicated the rest of his life to his wife, his children, his church and his friends. He was a beloved member of the Greenville Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where he taught many people the gospel by his wonderful example every day of his life. He served as a Bishop of the Belding Ward from 1983-1985. He and his wife also served a mission for the church in the Chicago Temple. He is preceded in death by his son Robert Lloyd in 1995, his beloved wife of 61 years, Bertha in 1997, his great grandson Matthew Garret in 1974, 2 sisters and a brother. He was lovingly cared for by his daughter Ellen Mae until his death. He is survived by his daughter Ellen Mae Snider of Greenville, his son Ralph W. II and wife Kay of Anderson, South Carolina, his son David James and wife Irene of Taylorsville, Utah, his son Terry Lee and wife Betty of Elkhart, Indiana, 15 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren, 3 great great- grandchildren, one sister, 2 half-sisters, nieces and nephews. The viewing will be held on Friday, September 8, 2006 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Johnson Feuerstein Funeral Home, 203 Pleasant Street, Belding. The funeral will be held Saturday September 9, 2006 at 10 a.m. at the Greenville Chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 10700 West Carson City Road, Greenville, Michigan. A viewing will be held at 9 a.m. prior to the fuenral service. A luncheon will follow to celebrate his long and prosperous life. Interment will be at the Orleans Cemetery, Orleans, Michigan at 1 p.m. Saturday. Friends and family are welcomed to attend. Memorial contributions may be made to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Humanitarian Fund. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/ionia/obits/b/brown7860nob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/mifiles/ File size: 3.4 Kb