Robert Earl Brown

Robert Earl Brown, age 88, a longtime former resident of Dover, passed away peacefully early Saturday morning, February 16, 2013, in Hazleton General Hospital, Hazleton, Pennsylvania.

Born at Goshen Township, Tuscarawas County, Ohio, February 2, 1925, he was the last surviving of seven children born to the late Christian C. and Emma Kappler Brown.

A 1943 graduate of Dover High School, Mr. Brown met and fell in love with the former Lois Stansbury. The couple wed December 1, 1946, and celebrated fifty-seven years of marriage prior to her death on June 8, 2004.

Mr. Brown was active in community affairs, serving as an Explorer Scout and Boy Scout leader for many years. He along with his wife was a charter member of the Tuscarawas Valley Pioneer Power Association, the organization that produces the annual Dover Steam Show in August. Mr. Brown always found time to serve the needs of others, whether through his service as a Boy Scout Leader and volunteer, to his service to the elderly by braving weather of every sort to deliver Mobile Meals to shut-ins.

His memberships included the Dover Historical Society, the Tuscarawas County Historical Society, the Ohio Historical Society, the Tuscarawas County Senior Citizens, and a tenure on the board of directors of the Camp Tuscazoar Foundation.

Mr. Brown retired from Union Camp following a career that spanned 42 years.

Survivors include his two sons; Larry R. and wife Elaine Brown of West Chester, O. and Randy J. and wife Pamela Brown of Hazleton, PA.

He’ll be sadly missed by his five grandchildren; Kate (Brian) Rechtsteiner who are the parents of Robert’s only great-grandson, Jackson, of Cincinnati, Jarrett (Wendy) Brown of Suzhou, China, Meghan (Nic) Covey of Chicago, IL, Christian (Megan) Brown, and Janel Brown all of Cincinnati.

In addition to his parents and beloved wife, Mr. Brown is preceded in death by his three sisters, Lena Cotterman, Erma Lanning and Florence Welfley as well as three brothers, John, Walter, and Clarence Brown.

Mr. Brown is to be cremated. His family will gather to receive friends and hold a memorial service on Saturday, March 2, 2013 at 1:00 PM in the chapel of the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia with the Rev. Dr. Steven Bailey officiating. Following, the family will gather to lay him to rest alongside his wife in New Philadelphia’s East Avenue Cemetery.

Instead of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to the Boy Scouts of America, Buckeye Council, 2301 13th Street NW, Canton, Ohio 44708 or to Community Hospice of Tuscarawas County, 716 Commercial Avenue SW, New Philadelphia, Ohio 44663.

To share stories, condolences or to light a candle in memory of Mr. Brown, please visit his permanent memorial on the funeral home’s website: www.GeibCares.com