South Strafford, Vt. —
Charlie was born July 24, 1933, in South Strafford, the son of Marjorie Sheldon Brown and Frank H. Brown. He attended the Newton Grade School in Strafford and later Thetford Academy in Thetford, Vt. where he lived in the dormitory his freshman and sophomore years before graduating in 1951. He was a star athlete in baseball and basketball and was a member of Future Farmers of America.
Charlie was a Justice of the Peace and believed to have married over 100 couples. He was also one of the founders of the Strafford Athletic Association. He was involved in the Central Vermont League, basketball and baseball. He worked on the ski program and hosted swimming lessons at the farm pond. Charlie enjoyed playing golf, skiing, fishing, horseback riding and carriage driving. He was very active in his children’s and grandchildren’s lives and activities. For more than 30 years he was caregiver for William “Sonny” Taylor.
He was a member of the Fire Department, Shriners, Eastern Star, Lions Club, Northern Farms, Vermont Sugar Makers Association and was a 50-year member of the Masonic Temple Lodge #54 F & AM. In 2008 he was honored as Lion’s Club Citizen of the Year by the Strafford Lion’s Club. For many years Charlie Brown was listed in the town directory as Justice of the Peace, Dowser and supplier of maple syrup and hay.
He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Ellen; and their son, Frank and his wife, Jessica of S. Strafford. Charlie and his former wife, Geraldine Gould had five children which include: Deborah Gray and her husband, Robert of Bethel, Vt., Charles “Punka” Brown and his wife, Jody of S. Strafford, Dixie Brown of Pembroke, N.H., Anthony “Tony” Brown and his wife, Christine of Randolph Ctr., Vt. and Cynthia Brown Falzarano of West Lebanon, N.H. He is also survived by four sisters, Corabelle Ammel and her husband, Robert, Marylou Kelly and her husband, Paul, Barbara Sargent and her partner, John Olender and Rita DeGoosh; 17 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by his brother, Frank H. Brown, Jr.
A memorial service will be held on Aug. 12, 2017, at 2 p.m. at the Universalist Church in South Strafford. A Masonic Burial Ceremony for the family will immediately follow at the Strafford Cemetery in the Upper Village where Charlie will be laid to rest next to his parents. All friends and family are invited to attend a celebration of Charlie’s life at Stage Road Farm in S. Strafford from 3:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Strafford Firemen’s Association, P.O. Box 208 South Strafford VT, 05070 or the Visiting Nurse & Hospice for VT & NH P.O. Box 1339 White River Jct., VT 05001.
The Boardway & Cilley Funeral Home, Chelsea, Vt. is in charge of the arrangements. A private message of sympathy for the family can be shared at www.boardwayandcilley.com