Thomas A. Brown Sr., 94, of Circleville, passed away Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016, in Mount Carmel West Hospital, Columbus.
He was born Dec. 14, 1921, in Columbus, the son of Joseph A. and Mary Margaret (Rittenhouse) Brown.
He left school in the eighth grade, later earning his high school equivalency in the Marine Corps and attending Bliss College and Marietta College.
He enlisted in the Marines in January 1942, serving as a Technical Sergeant with Marine Air Group 24 in the Solomon Islands, repairing and maintaining aircraft. He received the Purple Heart for injury suffered there. During the Korean War, he served at Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station, North Carolina. He continued to honor his commitment to the Marines throughout his life as a member of VFW and American Legion, as well as by founding, writing, and editing the MAG-24 newsletter starting in 1985.
His working life was spent as a fireman for the B&O Railroad, a private detective and claims adjuster with Nationwide Insurance in several places in Ohio and Kentucky. After his retirement in 1983, he resumed detective work.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers; six sisters; and two wives.
He is survived by one sister, Mary Katherine Elliott; two sons, Thomas A. (Lori) Brown Jr. and Joseph A. (Traci) Brown; two daughters, Nancy (widow of Arthur) Singletary and Mary Jane (Michael) Celentano; granddaughters, Annisa (Annie) and Jenina (Jennie) Brown, Amanda Fischelli and Kirstin Celentano and Chelsea Brown; grandson, Ryan A. Brown; great-granddaughters, Camille and Evelyn Fischelli; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Graveside services were held at 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 26, 2016, at Forest Cemetery with military honors provided by the Pickaway County Honor Guard. Calling hours were held Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016, at the Hill Funeral Home, Kingston.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to a military service organization of your choice.
Condolences can be made on Tom’s online guest registry at www.hillfhkingston.com.
This article originally appeared on The Pickaway News Journal
