Robert Brown

Robert Munson Brown, 87, of Vermilion, passed away Saturday, March 5, 2011, at New Life Hospice of St. Joseph, Lorain after a 5 month illness. Bob was born May 19, 1923 in Cortland, NY, to the late Samuel Keator and Agnes (nee McGraw) Brown. He earned an engineering degree from Cornell University and after graduation worked for Boeing and GM in Cleveland as a structural engineer on the B-29 Bomber. In 1959 he became the Regional Sales Manager for Wakefield Lighting in Vermilion, and ultimately became Vice -President of Marketing for ITT-Wakefield. He worked for ITT-Wakefield until 1974 when he formed his own lighting company in central New York. After retiring in 1989, he returned to Vermilion. Bob was a member of Vermilion Rotary Club which provided him an opportunity to volunteer for and develop various club projects. Some of those included reading programs for nursing home residents and elementary school students, beach and city street litter control projects, and various community lighting projects. He had also assisted with projects for Habitat for Humanity, and the Salvation Army. He was a member of the Lorain Senior Fellowship, the UCC Congregational Church, and served on the Vermilion School Board from 1973 to 74. He and his wife also started the first Y.M.C.A. activities in Vermilion. Bob loved spending time with his grandchildren, enjoyed gardening, woodworking, and was a big fan of college basketball. Bob is survived by his wife of 64 years Florence (nee Ward) Brown; 2 sons, Bob Brown of Bay Village, and Doug (Sue) Brown of Vermilion, 2 daughters, Lisa (Bob) Weber of Indianapolis, IN and Janet (Mark) Bury of Middleburg Heights; grandchildren Sara (Chad) Browning, Laura (Craig) Engledow, Ben and Lauren Bury, Emily and Bridget Brown; and great-grandson, Jude Browning. Along with his parents Bob was preceded in death by 2 brothers, Sam Brown, and Charlie Brown. The family will receive friends on Friday, March 18, 2011 from 6-9 p.m. at the Riddle Funeral Home, 5345 South Street Vermilion Ohio. Funeral services will be Saturday March 19, 2011 at 11 a.m. at the United Church of Christ Congregational Church. The Reverend Dr. Wendell Brooker will officiate. Interment will follow at Maple Grove Cemetery, Vermilion. The family suggests memorial contributions to the Vermilion Education Foundation P.O. Box 556 Vermilion, OH 44089, or Ritter Public Library Endowment Fund, 5680 Liberty Avenue, Vermilion, OH 44089 Online condolences may be made at www.riddlefuneralhome.com.