John H. Brown

John Harrison Brown, 85, of Springvale, died November 22 at the Greenwood Center.He was born in Brockton, MA on October 19, 1920, the youngest son of Irving O. and Florence (Waldron) Brown, and attended Brockton schools.He was married to the former Yvonne Whitcomb of Springvale for 54 years until her death in May of 2000.He served during World War II in the China-Burma-India Theater as an advance scout with Merrill's Marauders. While overseas, as a respected white man, he was invited to attend a rite of passage type ceremony with the Gurkha Guards, a very rare honor. He also boxed during the war, with 23 fights, losing only once to a semi-pro.He was a member and past deacon of the Springvale First Baptist Church as well as a charter member of the SERECO Club, a couples club within the church. He was a man of strong faith who believed strongly in stewardship to his church, something both he and his wife passed on to their children.He was a Past Master of the Bauneg Beg Grange. He was a member of the Springvale Masonic Lodge #190, Scottish Rites Lodge, Valley of Portland, and Ruth Chapter #14, Order of Eastern Star, Springvale. He was a Past Dad Advisor for Rainbow Girls, Sanford Assembly #7, having served in that capacity for his daughters and for other girls whose fathers were unable to do so. He was a recipient of the Rainbow Girls Grand Cross of Color.He retired as a Captain in the fire department, having served first in the Springvale Fire Department and then when the two departments merged, with the Sanford Fire Department. He was a member of the International Association of Professional Fire Fighters.He enjoyed woodworking and could do most anything with his hands. He liked to garden as he was really a farmer at heart.In addition to his parent and his wife, he was predeceased by a son Robert, brothers Ervin O. Brown, Robert S. Brown and by a sister Vivian Morse.Survivors include his children, Carlene Harrison of Sanford, Cynthia Roger and her husband Paul of Wells, Alicia Grammont of Haverhill, MA, Terrance Brown and his wife Sue of Springvale, 6 grandchildren and 4 great grandsons.Visiting hours will be held on Friday from 2-4 and 6-8 PM at the Carll-Heald & Black Funeral Home, 580 Main Street, Springvale. A memorial service will be held on Saturday at 11 AM at the Springvale First Baptist Church with the Revs. Elizabeth A. and Kenneth D. Keating officiating. Burial will be in the spring in Oakdale Cemetery in Sanford.The family requests that instead of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Memorial Fund at the Springvale First Baptist Church, P. O. Box 277, Springvale, ME 04083.His children wish to extend a huge thank-you to the staff and volunteers for their special care and the love they extended to their Dad and to them when he stayed at Greenwood Center.Condolences may be expressed at the tab at left.