09/25/2023

Obituary for Don L. Brown

Retired Funeral Director and Previous Owner of Brown Funeral Home

Mr. Don L. Brown, age 89, who resided at 707 North Main Street, died on September 23, 2023, at CHP Inpatient Hospice Center, Defiance, Ohio. Don was born July 31, 1934, in Hicksville, Ohio. He was the son of Lester A. and Iva B. (Haver) Brown. He graduated from Hicksville High School with the class of 1953. He attended St. Paul Bible College in St. Paul Minnesota, Bowling Green State University, Defiance College and graduated from Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science in 1964.

On June 24, 1955, he was united in marriage with Kathryn R. Lundell in Kennedy, Minnesota. He worked at Perkins and Reeb Funeral Home in Hicksville, Ohio, and Carpenter Funeral Home in Corning, New York. In 1974, Don and his wife, Kathryn, started Brown Funeral Home in Hicksville, Ohio, until 2003 when they retired.

Don was a member of Grabill Missionary Church. He served on the Hicksville Missionary Church Board for many years. He was a member of the Ohio Funeral Directors and National Funeral Directors Associations. He was a past president of the Hicksville Rotary Club. He served as past secretary of the Hicksville Chamber of Commerce. He was on the Hicksville Fire Department for several years. He served as the Hicksville Township Clerk for 34 years, served as Hicksville Zoning Inspector and was on the Forest Home Cemetery Board for 25 years. Don was on the Hicksville School Board for 13 years, the Village Council for eight years and served on the Board of Governors of Hicksville Community Memorial Hospital. He was a member of Gideons International.

Don is survived by his loving wife of 68 years, Kathryn R. Brown; two sons, David L. (Lori Lucas) Brown and Kenton L. (Sandi Copeland) Brown, both of Hicksville; one daughter, Debra S. (Craig) Spaulding of Auburn, Indiana; nine grandchildren, Aimee (Kurtis) King, Stephen (Carolyn) Brown, Kassandra (Alex) Ashbaugh, Kevin (Jana) Brown, Ethan (Caitlin) Spaulding, Luke (Robyn) Spaulding, Micah (Lauren) Spaulding, Joel Spaulding, and Mark (Madi) Spaulding; and 12 great-grandchildren, Nadia, Lana, Vaughn, Forrest, Benaiah, Jubilee, Laim, Samuel, Brey, Dakota, Jesse, Juliette, and another on the way . Don was preceded in death by his parents; and his sister, Bonnell J. McKinley.

Visitation for Don L. Brown will be held from 5:00 – 7:00 P.M. on Tuesday, September 26, 2023, at Oberlin-Turnbull Funeral Home, 706 North Main Street, Hicksville, Ohio 43526. Funeral services for Don will take place at 1:00 P.M. on Wednesday, September 27, 2023, at Grabill Missionary Church, 13637 State Street, Grabill, Indiana 46741 with two of Don’s grandsons, Pastor Kevin Brown and Pastor Luke Spaulding, officiating. There will be an additional hour of visitation on Wednesday at the church prior to the start of the funeral service.  Interment will follow in Forest Home Cemetery, Hicksville, Ohio.

Preferred memorials can be made to Grabill Missionary Church, or to Hicksville Crippled Children & Adult Society.

Condolences may be sent to the family, or the online guestbook may be signed at www.oberlinturnbull.com.