Theran Dale Brown

Theran Dale Brown, 95

Theran Dale Brown (Brownie) was born March 28, 1919 in Rainsville, Indiana, and died October 17, 2014. He was the son of the late Ola M. and Orlo V. Brown.

He attended Jefferson High School, where he was active in track and field and won numerous awards in pole vaulting and low hurdles. After graduation, he served 4 years as a union pipefitters apprentice with Local 240 S.D. in Lafayette before enlisting in the Army/Air Force on February 9, 1942. He was stationed in Chernofski Bay in the Aleutian Islands for 15 months before returning to the states for flight training and aerial gunnery training. He graduated from Bombardier school as a 2nd Lieutenant.

Brownie married the love of his life, Helen Hamilton, on February 11, 1944. Never were there two people more deeply in love and devoted to each other, and they shared many joyous years together, 68 of those as husband and wife, before Helen's death on March 20, 2013.

As a civilian, Brownie returned to the Plumbers and Steamfitters trade, working as a foreman for Ed Grace in the Local 157 in Terre Haute, IN. In 1959, he fulfilled his promise to his wife and completed construction of their new home. He later built a barn that would house many horses, sheep, goats, and pigs. Brownie and his family were members of The Battleground Saddle Club and enjoyed many horse shows and trail rides. Brownie was also active in a bowling league in Delphi for several years.

In 1981, Brownie retired from Ed Grace and he and Helen traveled all over the USA and to Canada. They spent several summers in Yellowstone National Park, where he did grounds maintenance and welding. On one of those summers, they flew their grandchildren out 2 at a time for a week of sightseeing and adventure. Many treasured memories were made on those trips.

Brownie was one of a kind, truly the very best of the best and a prince among men. There was nothing he couldn't do, and he was a true craftsman. He exemplified all that was good and was loved by all who knew him, but even more so by his family.

He is survived by his daughter, Sandy Collier (Dave) of Lafayette, son, Dick Brown (Peggy) of Remington, grandchildren Michele (Kipp) Everett (Mike), Melinda (Collier) Bond, John Kipp (Karen), Bob Collier (Kristi), Suzanne (Kipp) Wolf (Jonathan), Whitney (Brown) Wilcox, and Misty, Amanda, Dallas and Tony St. John, great-grandchildren Jordan Bond, Chloe Bond-Latia, Kiersten and Kerry Collier, Kyle Hamilton, Wesley and Lucas Everett, Kirk (wife Krystin), Evan, and Stephanie Wolf, Hanna and Abraham Kipp, Andrew Smith and Abraham Wilcox, and 7 great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by sisters Vivian Scrader, Barbara Brown, brothers, Victor, Porter and Jack, a daughter, Joanne Kipp, granddaughter Tammy (Brown) Schockey, and great grandsons Jeremiah and Zachary Smith.

Friends may call 5-8 p.m. Monday, October 20 at Hippensteel Funeral Home. Service will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Celebrant Denis Horn officiating. Interment will be at Tippecanoe Memory Gardens. Hippensteel Funeral Home entrusted with care. Memorial contributions may be made to Buck Creek United Methodist Church. Share memories and condolences online at www.hippensteelfuneralservice.com