W.E. “John” Brown, 95, of Hartford, Ky., passed away Friday, May 16, 2014, at the Ohio County Hospital in Hartford. He was born in Sunnydale, Ky., on Oct. 28, 1918, to the late Felix Edward Brown and Ora Lee Maden Brown.
Mr. Brown was a United States Army veteran having served during World War II. He retired from State Farm Insurance Company as owner of W.E. Brown Insurance Company, was a former co-owner of Brown & Tichenor Hardware in Hartford and formerly served as the 1st district magistrate of Ohio County. Mr. Brown was a faithful member of the Hartford Baptist Church. At 68 years of membership, he was the second longest member of the church. He was the oldest member of the congregation.
He was a former member of the Hartford Jaycees, served on the Ohio County Fair Board and was former President of the Ohio County Band Boosters. He enjoyed watching Kentucky Basketball, traveling and gardening. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Etheline Baird Brown, who passed away on January 21, 2011 and one sister, Lucille Brown Willoughby on Nov. 21, 1948.
Survivors include one son, Jerel Edward Brown (Melanie) of Montgomery, Texas; one daughter, Jill Brown Loschiavo (Mark) of West Chester, Pa.; five grandchildren, Laura Brown Rushing (Mike), Nathan Brown (Brandy), Lindsey Brown, Brian Loschiavo (Ulia) and Natalie Loschiavo and four great-grandchildren, William Tyler Ramsey, Emma Grace Ramsey, Maddox Kale Raney and Lila Kate Rushing.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, May 19, at Miller-Schapmire Funeral Home in Hartford, Kentucky with Bro. Ed Mitchell officiating. Burial will follow at Clear Run Baptist Church Cemetery in Ohio County. Visitation will be held from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Sunday and from 9 a.m. until the time of the service on Monday at the funeral home.
The family request that expressions of sympathy take the form of contributions to the Alzheimer’s Association, Greater Kentucky and Southern Indiana Chapter, Kaden Tower, 6100 Dutchmans Lane Suite 401, Louisville, Ky. 40205-3284.