CHARLES WILLIAM BROWN, Jr.

Charles William Brown, Jr., age 89, of Columbia City, IN passed away at 8:20 a.m. Thursday, April 9, 2009 at Miller's Merry Manor Inc., Columbia City. Born on September 24, 1919 in Escambia County, Pensacola, FL he was the son of Dr. Charles W. and A. Geraldine (Treworgy) Brown.In his early years, he lived on a farm in Coon Rapids, Iowa and in Clarksville, Atlanta, Bryan and Beaumont, Texas. Charlie received his high school education at Bryan and Beaumont, TX, graduating with the Class of 1935. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in electrical and mechanical engineering from Texas A & M, College Station, TX. He was called to active duty in 1941, serving with the United States Army as a Captain in the Alaskan Defense Command also during his military service he spent time in New Jersey, California and Alaska. He married Margaret L. Hamilton on August 21, 1944 in Fort Richardson, Alaska. He moved to Fort Wayne, IN and lived there from 1946-1955 while working with General Electric Company as an engineer. He then transferred in 1955 to Schenectady, NY where he continued to live until moving to Columbia City in 1995, when he married Frances Gordon Stuckey on January 14, 1995 at the Columbia City United Methodist Church. His memberships included Columbia City United Methodist Church, IEEE, St. Vincent de Paul Society of St. Andrew's Church, Fort Wayne, IN and of St. Madeleine Sophie Church, Schenectady, NY. Also the Fort Wayne Association of GE Engineers, Schenectady GE Engineers Association, Lynnwood Improvement Association, Helderberg Ski Club, GE Bowling League, Boy Scouts of America, Whitley County Literacy Council where he tutored for ten years, Whitley County Historical Society where he served as treasurer, Habitat for Humanity, Passages, Interfaith Mission (The Lighthouse), Peabody Public Library Landscape Committee where he watered the trees.Survivors include his wife, Frances E. Brown of Columbia City, IN; 2 sons, L. Thomas (Jillanne) Brown, Tuscon, AZ and Mark E. (Megan) Brown, Guilderland, NY; 2 daughters, Nancy L. Brown, Belmont, MA and Marcia A. Scheu, Portland, CT; 3 step children, Cleis Anne Pipino of West Hartford, CT, Gordon Edward Stuckey and Mark Kenton Stuckey of Fort Wayne, IN; 7 grandchildren, 4 great- grandchildren, 6 step grandchildren, and 6 step great-grandchildren; 1 sister, Beverly J. Knox, Fort Worth, TX. He was preceded in death by his father, Charles W. Brown, mother, A. Geraldine Brown, and his first wife, Margaret L. Brown in 1994.Visitation is from 4-7:30 p.m. with a 7:30 p.m. prayer service on Saturday, April 11, 2009 at DeMoney-Grimes Countryside Park Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City, IN. Pastor Paul Arnold of Columbia City United Methodist Church will officiate. A second visitation is from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Wednesday, April 15, 2009 at Fredendall Funeral Home, 199 Main Street, Altamont, NY. Burial will follow at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 15, 2009 at Prospect Hill Cemetery, Route Number 20, Guilderland, NY. Memorials may be given in memory of Mr. Brown to Columbia City United Methodist Church, Whitley County Literacy Council or the Peabody Public Library. Please visit www.demoneygrimes.com to send family condolences or sign the guest register book.Click here to view video tribute**Video may take up to 2 minutes to load.