Wendell D. Brown, 83, received his final promotion Jan. 8, 2015, at his home from complications related to heart disease. Known to his friends as “Brownie,” he was born Jan. 16, 1931, in Matthews, Ind., to Lawrence and Helen Cox Brown. He was a graduate of Jefferson Township High School class of ’49. He was a member of the U.S. Air Force during the Korean Conflict. He was employed at the New York Central Railroad and then Conrail Railroad for 27 years. He then was employed at the U.S. Postal Service as a rural carrier for the Claypool Post Office for 21 years. He also was employed at Cardinal Center in Warsaw for 10 years as a handyman. He mowed the side ditches for Kosciusko County for four years. Besides his regular jobs, he also worked as a TV repairman and was the treasurer for the Town of Claypool as well as owner of the Shell Gas station on Ind. 15 near Claypool. Whenever anyone in town needed a television or radio or washing machine, dryer or refrigerator fixed, they would call Brownie. When Claypool decided to start a kindergarten in 1959, he was involved in organizing the kindergarten for its first year even though his oldest child would not start kindergarten until the following year. He helped to build the long tables and chairs in primary colors for the class held in the basement of a church in town. He was one of the original organizers of the Claypool Boy Scout Troop 15 during the late ’60s and remained involved for several years. Surviving are his wife of 60 years, Patricia Vance Brown, Claypool; a brother, Hubert (and spouse Ceclile), Upland; three sons: Michael (and spouse Jann), Union, Ohio; Keith (and spouse Sheri), Claypool; and Kevin (and spouse Candi), Fort Wayne; and a daughter, Brenda (and spouse Glenn) McClendon, Cincinnati, Ohio; a very special son, Henry Brown Lyndah, Columbia City; seven grandchildren; numerous step-grandchildren; great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents. Services will be at 4 p.m. Sunday at Garden View Funeral Home, 10501 N. Ind. 3, Muncie. Calling will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday at Titus Funeral Home, 2000 E. Sheridan, Warsaw, and 3 to 4 p.m. Sunday at Garden View Funeral Home.
