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of Chelsea, Michigan, age 91, died Monday, October 3, 2016, at Chelsea Retirement Community. He was born August 15, 1925, in Chicago, IL, the son of Samuel I. & Eva June (Shank) Brown.
  He graduated from Illinois Wesleyan & Garrett Theological Seminary.  The Rev. Brown was a United Methodist minister, starting his ministry at LaGrange Methodist Church in Chicago in 1947, then serving at Central Park Ave (Chicago), Community Methodist (Chicago), Metropolitan UMC (Detroit), Central and Algonquin UMC (Sault Ste. Marie), Director of Ecumenical Campus Ministry at Lake Superior State College, First UMC (Saginaw), Orchard UMC (Farmington Hills) and ending as Superintendent of the Flint District, retiring in 1990. 

He was involved in starting services to help the Samaritan Counseling Center of Southeast Michigan, and Lenawee Emergency and Affordable Housing Corporation, serving under-privileged individuals locally and in 3rd world countries. Bob was also a volunteer chaplain, Kiwanian, Rotarian & Civitan. He enjoyed traveling to many places, some for pleasure, and some to bring awareness to third world countries.

   He was the beloved husband of Edith Ruth Brown of Chelsea.  They were married July 16, 1949, in St. Louis, MO, and she preceded him in death on January 5, 2007.  Survivors include a son, Gerald Brown of Clarksville, Maryland; three daughters, Barbara (Jonathan) Carlisle of Brimley, Roberta (John) Schmidt of St. Paul, MN, and Virginia (Richard) Shepler of Hemet, CA;  ten grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
 

A memorial service will be held 3 p.m., Sunday, October 23 at the First United Methodist Church of Chelsea, with the Rev. Joy Barrett officiating. Burial will be at Mission Hill Cemetery, near Brimley, Michigan.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Vellore Christian Medical College & Hospital, Chelsea First United Methodist Church or the UMRC Foundation.  Arrangements by Cole Funeral Chapel, Chelsea.

 

Click here to view or sign Rev. Brown's online guestbook