Gale E. Brown

On Saturday morning September 7, 2024, GALE E. BROWN of Indore, West Virginia, completed a vibrant lifetime of service to his family, his country and his community at the age of 99 years old or 36,280 days as he might have said.
Gale was a devoted husband to his beloved, late wife Delores, for 63 years, a dedicated, loving and supportive father to his four children: James (Walter), Patricia, Johnathan and Richard, and a doting and encouraging grandfather and great-grandfather to 18 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren.
In service to his country, Gale joined the United States Coast Guard on November 11, 1943, graduated from Capital Radio Engineering Institute in February of 1945, and was assigned as radio technician among the inaugural crew of the LST 1148. The 1148 was initially planned to be a part of the second wave force to invade Japan had the Japanese not surrendered to save Tokyo from the third atomic bomb. He arrived in Japan after the War had ended and was sent ashore to confiscate electronics equipment from Japanese warplanes. Here, he was exposed to ionizing radiation and suffered its effects aboard ship during the return home. Four years after his honorable discharge, he lost sight in both eyes (temporarily in his left eye and permanently in his right). He went on to live a life dedicated to helping others overcome disabilities and obstacles in their lives.
Gale served his community as a teacher for 36 years: 15 years integrating those experiencing blindness into public schools in the state of Maryland, 10 years as head of the special education program at Clay County High School, three years teaching special education at the elementary and junior high school levels in Clay, two years as a math and English teacher at Clay County High School, six years as a teacher at Brown Elementary School, two of which in a dual role as its principal. He was a Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) service officer for 35 years, garnering deserved benefits for countless veterans and their families. He spent 22 years as a swimming instructor and lifeguard, several of those running special programs for seniors and individuals with disabilities. He ran numerous summer camps for individuals with disabilities through the years. He raised the American Flag at every home football game of the Clay County High School Panthers for 48 straight years without missing a single game. In his retirement he tutored many of Clay County's successful citizens, and conducted a vibrant, 20-year flag program in all of the county's elementary schools. He served in various leadership roles in several of the community's service organizations, VFW and Lions Club to name a couple. He received the Melvin Jones Fellowship and Leonard Jarrett Awards for service in the area of sight conservation, meeting the needs of innumerable individuals in their quest to overcome visual impairments.
Gale lived a life full of great faith in God, and he chose to demonstrate it much more than speak it. He also was a lifelong learner. At one point in his education, he had recorded 22-and-a-half consecutive years having taken at least one college level course. As a sterling member of the "Greatest Generation," he lived a life full of colorful stories and adventures, yet what is left to see in it all is a man who embodied and exemplified, at all cost, service to his fellow man.
He is preceded in death by his wife Delores Hintz Brown, his son Jonathan Brown, his granddaughter Jeannette Conley, his great-grandson Maxxen Schluessler, his parents James and Bertha Brown, his sisters Pauline Hedrick and Eva Faye Brown and his brothers Roy Brown, Paul Brown, and David Brown.
He is survived by his children Dr. James (Walter) Brown (Rhonda Rogers), Patricia Brown Conley (Kevin), daughter-in-law Jennifer Roberts Brown, Richard Brown (Aldrea Reese), nephew (taken responsibility for) Steven Herndon (Martha Henderson), grandchildren Brianna Brown Hawkins (Seth), Chelsea Brown, Jaimie Conley Althage (Philip), Regina Conley Bethencourt (Tomas), William Conley (Abigail Sullivan), Angela Conley Sullivan (Ryan), John (Jack) Conley, Lucy Conley, Susan Conley, Haley Brown Schluessler (Marcus), Lexi Brown McClanahan (Elijah), Nicholas (Kole) Brown, Joseph Brown, Aliyah Brown Morris (Terry), Daniel Brown, JonahCharis Brown, Elise Brown, grandniece Anna Herndon Shampine (Derek), grandnephew Steven (Drew) Herndon II (Bailey Briggs), sisters Rosie Jane Lucas and Betty Pullens, brothers Joe Brown and Philip Brown and 26 great-grandchildren.
We would like to offer our deepest appreciations to all of those who aided in the care of Gale Brown in his later years, especially his immediate caregivers Ruth Truman and his grandchildren Philip and Jaimie Althage.
A memorial service is being held at 11 am, on Saturday, September 14, 2024, at Lizemores Church of the Nazarene, 19 Grassy Fork Road, Lizemores, West Virginia. A funeral reception will follow the service in the Church's fellowship hall. Flowers can be sent directly to the Church.