William N. Brown

William N. Brown, 86 of North East, MD, died suddenly Tuesday, May 8, 2012 at home. Born in Salem, NJ on Dec. 21, 1925, he was the son of the late Carroll S. and the late Estelle Nelson Brown. He is survived by his wife Margaret R. Brown. He is predeceased by his wife, Marilyn Garwood Myers. He is also predeceased by his son David Wayne Brown. In addition to his loving wife, survivors include his children: Donald Nelson Brown and his wife Evelyn, Douglas Carroll Brown and his wife Donna, and his step daughter, Joanne Milhausen; his grandchildren: Barrett and his wife Lori, Stacey, Shawn and his wife Kristin, Scott and his wife Kandice; and his great grandchildren: Tyler, Erikson, Noah, Jaida, Kayla, and Elaina. Ordained as an Elder in the NJ Methodist Conference in 1961, as Rev. Brown, he pastored the churches of Hancocks Bridge, Canton and Deerfield, NJ. Rev. Brown left the Parish Ministry due to his first wife's continuous care with MS to assume a Chaplaincy Ministry until his death. He was Chaplain of Salem Rotary Club, Salem Memorial Hospital, Roosevelt Scout Reservation, Visiting Chaplain to Rodney Scout Reservation DE-MD-VA Council and Chaplain of Union Hospital, Elkton, MD. Prior to moving to North East, MD, he was Chaplain of St. John's Episcopal Church, Salem, NJ to the hospitals and health care facilities, giving over 50 years of service to the sick, elderly and shut-ins. To countless Scouts and Scouters during his 70 plus years in Scouting, he was fondly known as "Buck Brown". He attained the rank of Eagle Scout with Bronze and Gold Palms; served as Scoutmaster, Asst. District Commissioner and on various committees. Some of his many awards were the Silver Beaver by the National Council B.S.A. for Distinguished Service to Boyhood; International Woodbadge Training Beads; Vigil Honor; Order of the Arrow; Scouters Key and the Council President Award in 2002. In 1992 he was part of a group representing the State of NJ to the Peace Commission of Volgograd, Russia, taking in Medical Supplies and Bibles. Rev. Brown was a member of the Mason Dixon Post American Legion, Rising Sun, MD, American Legion, Perryville, MD and Men's Auxiliary of VFW Post 6027, North East, MD. Other affiliations were Excellsior-Pennsgrove Masonic Lodge #54, Joppa Chapter; Royal Arch Masons. Active in the NRA, he held the award of Expert Rifleman and was an instructor in rifle, shotgun and pistol; hunter-safety instructor for the State of NJ and Club Leader of the Teddy Roosevelt Jr. Rifle Club. After graduating in 1944 from Salem High School, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps during World War II. Rev. Brown attended Washington and Jefferson College and the Philadelphia Divinity School. He was in the Lambda Chialpha Fraternity and the Order of St. Luke. His community service to the City of Salem included Board of Adjustment and Chairman of the Board of Assistance for 18 years. Rev. Brown and his wife Margaret were innkeepers for "Brown's Historic Home Bed and Breakfast". He enjoyed skiing, world traveling and wood carving. Receiving a certificate form the Carving School of Oberammergau, Germany, he has carvings in several churches. Memorial services, conducted by Father Samuel Hartman will be held Friday, May 11, 2012 at 1:00 PM at St. Mary Anne's Episcopal Church, 315 South Main Street, North East, MD. Interment with full military honors will follow in the church cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to either St. Mary Anne's Episcopal Church or Del-Mar-Va Council BSA, in care of Crouch Funeral Home, P.A, 127 South Main Street, North East, MD 21901.