Dorcas K. Brown

Dorcas Kathryn (Oettinger) Brown, age 76, of New Philadelphia, went to be with the Lord on Thursday, April 2, 2015, surrounded by her family, following a hard fought illness, while in the care of Community Hospice House.

Born on January 30, 1939 in Wayne, West Virginia, she was the eldest of four children born to the late William and Madeline (Tittle) Oettinger. Most of her childhood was spent in Putney, West Virginia where her father was pastor of a local church, and then a teacher in the local public school. When the family moved from Wayne to Putney, she nearly didn’t make it, due to an exhaust leak in the car which caused her to faint from carbon monoxide poisoning. But, God had other plans.

She began her schooling in the Kanawha County Public School system, beginning first grade with her dad as her teacher. In her early teens, Dorcas boarded away from home during the week, in order to attend a Christian school, coming home on weekends. She completed her high school and college years at Peoples Bible College in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She taught in several Christian schools for many years.

On August 6, 1988, she married the love of her life, Kenneth Brown, and they enjoyed 26 wonderful years together. Following Ken’s retirement, they had several years of itinerant evangelistic and children’s ministry including music. While they thoroughly enjoyed this ministry, they were forced to retire due to health problems. Even following their ministry retirement, the couple’s faith was nurtured at Home Mission Church in Alliance.

Dorcas’ ministry was not limited to music, however. She was the “secondary” caregiver for her father during his later years, and the primary caregiver for her mother until her passing. Soon thereafter Ken suffered a stroke and required an increasingly intensive level of care, which she provided with the aid of Community Hospice until his passing in December 2014. During the last couple of years, she cared for him in spite of her own deteriorating health. In serving others, she served the Lord with a joyful heart.

She leaves behind to mourn her passing a sister Eunice (Ralph) Gault, brothers Dan (Donna) Oettinger and David (Grace) Oettinger, a cousin, Melvin Hyler, nine nieces and nephews and 17 great-nieces and nephews. Completing the family are her step-daughter Beth (Wiley) Dixon, two step-grandchildren, Seth (Courtney) and Stacey (Andrew), and three step-great-grandchildren, Zane, Bryce, and Paige.

Dorcas has now been reunited with her beloved husband, Ken, her mother and father, and most of all, her Lord.

The family will greet guests on Monday, April 6, 2015, from 4:00 – 7:00 PM in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia. A service celebrating Dorcas’ life will be held in the funeral home’s chapel on Tuesday, April, 7, 2015 at 2:00 PM. A meal and fellowship will follow in the Geib Family Center, adjacent to the funeral home. Private burial will take place at a later date.

In gratitude for their exemplary care and compassion to both Dorcas and Ken, Memorial contributions in memory of Dorcas may be directed to Community Hospice of Tuscarawas County, 716 Commercial Avenue SW, New Philadelphia, Ohio 44663 or to Hope International Missions, P.O. Box 1065, Hobe Sound, FL 33475.