Ronceverte-John Albert Brown, 85, a farmer and lover of the land and all its inhabitants went to mow the Lord’s fields Wednesday, May 7, 2014.
The son of the late Dorothy and John Harve Brown, of Ronceverte, he was born Oct. 17, 1928.
He lived most of his life on the family farm at the mouth of Second Creek and the Greenbrier Valley. He was a believer in America and the American Dream, he served his country in the U.S. Army in the early 1950s. After leaving the military, his career of 50 years as a construction worker, heavy equipment operator started. He traveled 12 years building bridges and roads all over West Virginia. He was extremely proud of his work and took pride in all he accomplished. His hard-working lifestyle won him admiration from those who knew him. To pay attention to detail and realize the value of hard work and the satisfaction of a job well done were values he passed on to many.
In 1965, he returned to the beloved family farm and continued his career for another 38 years. He built a home on the farm and spent his off work time putting up hay, working the land and raising cattle. He was never happier than when riding his tractor. His many stories of life experiences gave us examples of his happy and fulfilling life. Taking his great grandchildren fishing or just having the children near him brought him much happiness. He believed being a “good neighbor” was a high calling; and he assisted his neighbors and friends at every opportunity. He appreciated the assistance of his neighbors and friends during his troubling times. He was a Christian in belief and deed. Always wearing a beautiful smile, he brought pleasure to those he loved. The bedrock of a close knit family, he took interest in all his family including his nieces and nephews.
Survivors include his wife, Margaret Vance Brown, Ronceverte; two daughters, Donna (Date) Loudermilk of Ronceverte and Dorothy (Bob) Bishop of Morgantown; two sons, Larry Two Rivers (Shelly) Brown of Lewisburg and Eddie (Donna) Brown of Ronceverte; brother, Dearl (Joan) Brown of Ronceverte; three sisters, Margaret VanHorn of Charleston, Tillie (Bill) Price of New Jersey and Joyce Clinebell of Roanoke, VA; five grandchildren, Matt Hayes of Ronceverte, Mark (Robin) Hayes of Ashburn, VA, Robert (Jessica) Bishop of Morgantown, Brandon (Tara) Bishop of Florida and Leslie (Jacob) Cayanus of Michigan; 12 great-grandchildren, Lane, Landon and Logan Hayes, McGuire, Noah and Avery Reid, Lauren and Allison McCord, Emily, Morgan, Ayla and Harper Bishop; brothers-in-law, Pretty (James) Vance, Philip (Betty) Vance, George (Linda) Vance and Robert Vance; sister-in-law, Bayo (Joe) Graham.
He was preceded in death by three brothers, Thornton, Charles and Bob Brown; three sisters, Anna May Brown, Nancy Kessinger and Katherine Jones; brother-in-law, Junior Vance; and sisters-in-law, Mary Bland and Darlene Coffman.
The funeral service was held on Sunday, May 11 at Wallace & Wallace Funeral Home in Lewisburg where Pastor Brian Baker officiated.
Burial with Military Rites followed at Rosewood Cemetery, Lewisburg.
The family received guests Saturday evening, May 10 at the funeral home.
Pallbearers were: Mike Hannah, Donnie Yates, Peanut Bland, Robert Bishop, Lane Hayes, Chris Vance, Mike Vance and Pat Vance.
Please send online condolences by visiting www.WallaceandWallaceFHcom.
