Obituary: Howard F. Brown, Col. USA Ret., 96

Howard F. Brown, Col. USA Ret., 96, passed away March 6, 2014. He was the husband of the late Barbara E. (Beachen) Brown.

Born in Providence, he was a son of the late Louis and Rose Brown. He was a 1936 graduate of La Salle Academy, received his BA degree from the former College of the Ozarks, now the University of the Ozarks, a MA degree in History from the University of Rhode Island and a MA degree in Special Education from Rhode Island College.

Colonel Brown served in the Pacific Theater in the 103rd Field Artillery Btn. of the 43rd Infantry Division. In 1967 he retired from the service and became Assistant Executive Director of the Adeline La Plante Memorial Center in Wakefield, where he later became president of their board. He devoted his retirement to community service, serving on the Board of the Council for Exceptional Children, was president/secretary of the 43rd Infantry Division Veterans Association and edited their newsletter for years.

He was also a board member of the Westerly Armory Restoration Project. He is survived by his children: Joanne Sherry and her husband Donald, Ruth O'Farrell and her husband Michael, Linda Higgs and her husband Charles, Howard Jr. and his wife Nancy and Sandra Deneault and her husband Joseph; grandchildren: Barbara, Steven, Amy, Patrick, Elizabeth and Malinda, 10 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild. He was the father of the late Barbara A. Brown and the brother of the late Marian Mulcahey and Russell Brown.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Wednesday at 10:00am at Our Lady of Mercy Church, 65 Third St., East Greenwich. Burial with military honors will be in RI Veterans Cemetery, Exeter. Calling hours: Tuesday 4-8pm at the Hill Funeral Home, 822 Main St., East Greenwich. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association.