Honoring My Dad's Life

Rev. Richard Leonard Brown (November 16, 2012)

Reverend Richard Leonard Brown, 90, of Kansas City, MO, went to meet his Lord and Savior on November 16^th, 2012.　

He was born on December 24, 1921 to Clyde and Gertrude (Graham) Brown in Waltham, Massachusetts, he spent his childhood in the West Newberry area where he graduated from Melrose High School. He attended a year of business classes from the University of MA before joining the U.S. Army after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He served his country as a 1^st Lieutenant and Infantry Unit Commander, Company A, 307 Infantry, 77^th Division. He fought in the Pacific, Guam, Philippines, Okinawa, and Occupation of Japan. He was recognized with the following military honors: Asiatic Pacific Medal with the Bronze Arrowhead, the WWII Victory Medal, The American Service Medal, 2 Purple Hearts, Bronze Star with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Philippine Liberation Medal.

He was honorably discharged after V-J Day 1945. On December 27 1942, taking a leave of absence, following Officer Training, he was united in marriage to Adalene (“Ann”) Ruscilla Cook of Stoneham, MA.

On release from active duty he settled with wife and first three children in Newton, Massachusetts where in 1950, he accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior. He worked for the Salvation Army, taught Accounting classes while attending Providence Bible College, earning his BA degree. He responded to God’s call to become a Baptist Minister. He became Pastor and was ordained at Curtis Corner Baptist Church, Peace Dale, RI. He later served as Pastor of West Roxbury Baptist Church in Roxbury, MA, Rushford Baptist Church in Rushford, NY, Christian Fellowship Baptist Church in Amherst, NY, and Dennison Corners Community Church, in Mohawk, NY.  Following these years, he became Chaplain to the Syracuse Rescue Mission, Syracuse, NY and also served as Associate Pastor to DeWitt Community Church in Dewitt, NY.　 Upon retirement in 1992, he moved to Smithville, Missouri, where he and his wife continued in ministry to local churches, to the Independent Baptist Association, and as volunteers with Source of Light Mission. His wife Ann passed away on February 6, 2006.

Those that knew him best also knew that he was proud to have served his country, humbled and changed by the Grace of God, honored to be called into Christian Ministry, blessed with a loving wife and family, excited and enthused any time he could be together in fellowship with his loving family of Christian Saints, and a dedicated disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ, anxious to witness that “Jesus Paid It All – All To Him I Owe”!"Dick” is survived by his eight children, twenty-seven grandchildren, and 31 great-grandchildren.　
Private family services, Hixson-Klein Funeral Home, Gower
In lieu of flowers, donations to Gideon’s International PO BOX 140800 Nashville, TN 37212-0800