Freestone County, Texas
Obituaries


Mexia Daily News - Jul. 25, 2003 edition

Pastor, longtime Teague merchant dies

By BOB WRIGHT-Editor
TEAGUE - The Rev. Walter Truman Brown, 83, well-known longtime Baptist minister
and grocery store merchant of Teague, died Wednesday at his home in Teague.

Rev. Brown, who for many years owned and operated Brown's Grocery Store in
Teague, also served for many years as pastor of Prairie Grove Baptist Church in
Limestone County, just off Highway 39.

Funeral services will be conducted Saturday morning at 11 o'clock in Prairie
Grove Baptist Church, where the Rev. Clifton Jones, pastor, will officiate.
Rev. Jones succeeded Brown as pastor of that church. Burial will be in Prairie
Grove Cemetery, under direction of Ricks-Bowers Funeral Home.

Visitation is scheduled for this evening from 6 until 8 o'clock at the funeral
home.

Walter was born April 7, 1920 to Walter Sherman and Nancy Jane Upchurch Brown
in Bedias, where he attended school and married his high school sweetheart,
Temple Willis, upon their graduation in 1939 from high school.

In 1943, Mr. Brown left Bedias to enter World War II, where he served his
country in the U.S. Army as a heavy machine gunner and as Staff Sergeant in
Company D, 105th Infantry. He saw combat in Saipan and Okinawa and was among
the first American troops to land in Japan at the close of the war. During his
tour of duty, Walter was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star.

He and his wife moved to Teague in 1948, and for over 30 years owned and
operated Brown's Grocery and Market, located at 312 Main. They also were
instrumental in formation of the first special education classes in the Teague
Independent School District, and in establishing the Teague Activity Work
Center, now known as the Mary McLeod Dunlap Training Center.

During his early years in Teague, Walter was a member of First Baptist Church,
where he served in numerous capacities, including deacon, Sunday School teacher
and Sunday School Director. He also served as a supply pastor in many area
churches until called to serve as pastor of Prairie Grove Baptist Church. He
did this from 1957 until he retired in 1995.

A unique feature of his ministry in Prairie Grove was that of a bus ministry to
many children in the surrounding areas.

In all of his endeavors, Walter was a much-respected and love gentleman, and is
also remembered for his quick wit, his sense of humor, his ready smile, and his
dedication and enthusiasm for service to God, his country, and his fellowman.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 62 years, Temple Brown; by a
brother, Robert Brown, and by a sister, Cleo Leverett.

Memorials to Rev. Brown may be made to Prairie Grove Baptist Church.

Surviving are his children - Ronnie Brown of Mexia, Kay Walker and husband Joe
of Teague, Linda Stacks and husband Randy of Teague, Mike Brown and wife Lisa
of Kingwood, and Mark Brown of Teague; a sister, Lois Adams of Bryan; a
sister-in-law, Edna Brown of Houston; nine grandchildren, three
great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews.