MOUNT VERNON – Robert W. Brown, 89, passed away on Dec. 31, 2020, after a short hospitalization.
Bob was born the eighth child of Charles F. Brown and Maude (Sockman) Brown on Aug. 3, 1931, in Mount Vernon, where he graduated from Mount Vernon High School in 1949. He served in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict, spending 16 months in Korea. Upon his honorable discharge from the Army, he returned to Ohio and married Elizabeth "Joyce" Moreland on Feb. 11, 1955.
He was employed for 12 years at Pittsburgh Plate Glass as a storeroom truck driver, but in 1967 he left to pursue his love of milking and breeding registered Jersey cattle, taking over Chapmore Farm which was owned by his in-laws. He was a member of the former Friendship United Methodist Church, a 36-year advisor of the Knox County Jersey 4-H Club, a director for the Hartford Independent Fair for 26 years, and he served as the District 7 director of the Ohio Jersey Breeders Association for 35 years — spending 25 of those years on the Show Committee.
Bob was also a member of the Ohio Purebred Dairy Cattle Association and the Jersey Representative for the Ohio State Fair, where he was inducted into the Ohio State Fair Hall of Fame in 1994. His passion for showing Jersey cattle was ignited at the Knox County Fair in 1949 where he showed his first Jersey heifer in 4-H. That led to many years of him showing under his farm name, Brownline Jerseys; at the Ohio State Fair, World Dairy Expo and National All-American Jersey Show.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Joyce; children, Brenda (Ralph) Uhe of Janesville, Wisconsin, Stuart (Dee) Brown of Centerburg and Cindy (Keith) Jackson of Walhonding; five grandchildren; and twelve great-grandchildren.
Special thanks to his caregiver, Katie Gribben.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and five sisters.
A semi-private visitation for close friends and family will be held on Friday, Jan. 8, 2021, from 11 a.m - 1 p.m. at Johnson-Melick-Moreland Funeral Home, 49 W. Church St. in Centerburg (masks will be required with social distancing). A private funeral will be at 1 p.m. with Pastor Ben McKinstry officiating, followed by a family graveside service with military flag presentation at Friendship Cemetery in Mount Vernon.
A Celebration of Life will follow at a later date.
Condolences at www.morelandfuneralhome.com.
