Frank Brown

Biography

Frank Harlen “Doc” Brown, 91, passed away peacefully June 27, 2013, in Tallahassee, Florida.

Frank was married to the former Virginia Mae Thomas for sixty six years before her passing in 2007. Brown, a retired public school superintendent, was born in Rushsylvania, Ohio. Frank also was preceded in death by his son, 1st Lt. Ruel Harlen Brown, while mobilized with the Ohio Air National Guard in 1968; three brothers, Lowell, Perk and Carol; and a sister, Thelma.

He leaves a daughter, Beth (Curt) Blair; two beloved grandchildren, Joy Adele (Chuck) Stubbs and Ruel William (Amy) Smith; four treasured great-grandchildren, Charlie Stubbs, Mary Harlen Stubbs, Ruel Alden Smith and Reid Jameson Smith; a sister, Charlotte Hall of Bellefontaine, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Frank graduated from Bellefontaine High School and went on to receive bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from The Ohio State University.

He served as a rifleman with the United States Army’s 96th Infantry Division in the amphibious assault to liberate the Philippines in World War II, and was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart medals for his actions and for his wounds sustained in combat.

Mr. Brown had a lengthy and distinguished career as an educator. He was coordinator of the Ohio State House Conference on Education in 1960. He served as superintendent of schools in Canal Winchester and Bedford, Ohio and West Aurora, Illinois.

A Kiwanian for more than thirty years, he also was active in the United Methodist Church, teaching Sunday School for several years.

In his final years, he became a Floridian. His personality — to the end — matched the sunshine in the state.

Rev. Mike Thomas will officiate the 2:00 P.M. memorial service Saturday, August 31, 2013, at the Eichholtz Funeral Home in Bellefontaine, where calling hours are from 12:00 noon to 2:00 P.M. prior to the service. Interment will be at the East Liberty Cemetery in East Liberty, Ohio.