Ronald “Ron” J. Brown, 89, of Montpelier passed away Tuesday morning at the University of Toledo Medical Center. He was born on October 6, 1926 in Montpelier to Maynard J. and Edith D. (Brannan) Brown. Ron graduated from Montpelier High School in 1944 and was on the football, basketball and track teams. He then went on to attend Defiance College and Purdue University. On June 22, 1952 he married Helen L. Spencer at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Montpelier and she survives. Ron proudly served his county in the United States Navy on the U.S. Bataan for 2 years during World War II.
He worked for Sinclair Oil in Chicago, Illinois and Toledo, Ohio for 4 years. Ron then worked for Mohawk Tools in Montpelier for 32 years, including 20 years as a District Sales Representative for 6 New England States and Upper New York State at Brown Mohawk in South Hadley, Massachusetts.
Ron attended St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Montpelier and was a member of the Williams County Conservation League. He was one of the original Trustees of the Montpelier Athletic Boosters Club that was instrumental in developing the Montpelier School-Community Recreation Center, currently known as the Montpelier Parks and Recreation.
Ron enjoyed spending time with his family and watching his grandsons participating in sports and school activities. Ron was an avid golfer, he was a former member of The Orchard Golf Course in South Hadley, MA, Hillcrest Country Club in Montpelier, and Orchard Hills in Bryan. He also enjoyed hunting, fishing and snow skiing.
He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Helen; two daughters Rickalene L. (Ronald) Chamberlain of Montpelier and Gretchen L. (Stephen) Noiseux of Ipswich, Massachusetts; grandsons, Travis S. Chamberlain of Asheville, NC, Jared K. Chamberlain of Brevard, NC, Adam G. Chamberlain of Montpelier and Stuart D. Noiseux of Ipswich, MA; great granddaughter Caddisy R. Chamberlain of Montpelier; two sisters Beverly Henry of Montpelier and Cindy Storrer of New Breman, Ohio; and two brothers Barry Brown of Montpelier and Steve Brown of Milan, Ohio.
Ron was preceded in death by his parents, twin sons Kim and Tim Brown and one sister Bonnie Stahl.
Visitation for Ron will be on Friday, September 16th from 4-7pm at the Thompson Funeral Home on Main Street in Montpelier. Services will be on Saturday at 11am at the funeral home with Pastor Richard Blank to officiate. Interment will follow at Riverside Cemetery in Montpelier with military honors provided by the Montpelier Veterans.
Memorial contributions may be given to St. Paul’s UMC or Montpelier Athletic Boosters. Condolences can be left atwww.thethompsonfuneralhome.com.