On August 2, 2012 our cherished father and grandfather entered eternity to the welcoming arms of a large contingency of family and friends. Dr. Gladstone L. Brown was born September 4, 1917 to Maude and Samuel Brown in Sebring, Ohio and was the youngest of nine children.
Gladstone enjoyed a long and illustrious education. He graduated from Sebring McKinley High School in 1935. This past June, he was given a Distinguished Alumni Award by the Sebring Alumni Association. He attended Mt. Union College, majoring in English and history. Before his graduation in 1939, he was active in student senate, president of the campus YMCA, member of the debate team and president of the Senior Class. He received his Masters of Divinity from Oberlin College in 1945 and his Ph.D. from Drew University in 1958.
While at Mt. Union College, Gladstone met and married the love of his life, Anne Jeanette Wursthorn. They enjoyed seventy-two years of marriage before Anne's death in June 2011.
Also predeceasing him are parents Maude and Samuel; brother, Ernest; sisters, Gertrude, Edith, Olive, Florence, Madeline, Bryda and Ruth as well as many brother and sister in-laws. He is survived by daughter Anne King Brown of Alliance, Ohio; son Dr. David Leslie Brown and his wife Terry of Okemos, Michigan; grandson Matthew Samuel Brown of Cincinnati, Ohio; granddaughter Kristen Elizabeth Brown and fiancé Justin Zane Horine of Philadelphia, PA; sister in law, Mary Curtis of California; and many nieces and nephews.
Dr. Brown had a long, successful career that took him from Ohio to Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Michigan. Following graduation from Mt. Union College, he became Youth Director at Broad Street United Methodist Church in Columbus, Ohio. While obtaining advanced degrees, Gladstone worked as a child welfare worker at Fairmont Children's Home and pastor at Waco and Mt. Zion United Methodist Churches. In 1945, he moved the family to Pennsylvania to become the pastor for Camptown, Herrickville, Standing Stone and Beaver Meadows United Methodist Churches. In 1950, Gladstone returned to Ohio to serve as pastor of Madison United Methodist Church, along with Chapel Church in North Madison. While there, he served as the first chaplain of Lake County Hospital in Painsville, Ohio and in 1957 became pastor of Mt. Gilead United Methodist Church.
In 1959, the family moved to their beloved Chagrin Falls, where Gladstone became pastor of the Chagrin Falls United Methodist Church. The family remained there until his appointment as superintendent of the Youngstown District and then superintendent of the Cleveland District of the United Methodist Church.
In 1972 Gladstone accepted the position of pastor at the Wauwatosa United Methodist Church in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. He remained there until his appointment in 1975 as Dean of the Chapel at Albion College in Albion, Michigan where he also taught philosophy and world religions. In 1981 he became Executive Vice President of Albion College. He held that position until his retirement in 1983. In addition to his many achievements, Gladstone is a recognized authority on the subject of the philosophy of Karl Marx, lecturing widely on the subject. The title of his dissertation in 1958 was A Christian Criticism of the Philosophy of Karl Marx, With Special Reference to the Problem of Anthropology, Philosophically and Theologically Understood.
Immanuel Kant once said, "Live your life as though your every act were to become universal law." Gladstone held this belief very dear to his heart and lived each day with the morality and dedication required to be a leader in his community and to his family. His stories, life lessons and sermons continue to live on through the many people he reached and the communities he built.
He will be sorely missed.
A memorial service for Dr. Gladstone L. Brown and his wife, Anne Jeanette Brown will be held at a later date in Chagrin Falls, Ohio.
The family would like to extend a special thanks to Tammi Taylor for the care she provided to Gladstone.
Arrangements are by Cassaday-Turkle-Christian Funeral Home, 75 S. Union Ave. Alliance, Ohio 44601.
Written by Theresa Ann Brown and Kristen Elizabeth Brown
Gladstone enjoyed a long and illustrious education. He graduated from Sebring McKinley High School in 1935. This past June, he was given a Distinguished Alumni Award by the Sebring Alumni Association. He attended Mt. Union College, majoring in English and history. Before his graduation in 1939, he was active in student senate, president of the campus YMCA, member of the debate team and president of the Senior Class. He received his Masters of Divinity from Oberlin College in 1945 and his Ph.D. from Drew University in 1958.
While at Mt. Union College, Gladstone met and married the love of his life, Anne Jeanette Wursthorn. They enjoyed seventy-two years of marriage before Anne's death in June 2011.
Also predeceasing him are parents Maude and Samuel; brother, Ernest; sisters, Gertrude, Edith, Olive, Florence, Madeline, Bryda and Ruth as well as many brother and sister in-laws. He is survived by daughter Anne King Brown of Alliance, Ohio; son Dr. David Leslie Brown and his wife Terry of Okemos, Michigan; grandson Matthew Samuel Brown of Cincinnati, Ohio; granddaughter Kristen Elizabeth Brown and fiancé Justin Zane Horine of Philadelphia, PA; sister in law, Mary Curtis of California; and many nieces and nephews.
Dr. Brown had a long, successful career that took him from Ohio to Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Michigan. Following graduation from Mt. Union College, he became Youth Director at Broad Street United Methodist Church in Columbus, Ohio. While obtaining advanced degrees, Gladstone worked as a child welfare worker at Fairmont Children's Home and pastor at Waco and Mt. Zion United Methodist Churches. In 1945, he moved the family to Pennsylvania to become the pastor for Camptown, Herrickville, Standing Stone and Beaver Meadows United Methodist Churches. In 1950, Gladstone returned to Ohio to serve as pastor of Madison United Methodist Church, along with Chapel Church in North Madison. While there, he served as the first chaplain of Lake County Hospital in Painsville, Ohio and in 1957 became pastor of Mt. Gilead United Methodist Church.
In 1959, the family moved to their beloved Chagrin Falls, where Gladstone became pastor of the Chagrin Falls United Methodist Church. The family remained there until his appointment as superintendent of the Youngstown District and then superintendent of the Cleveland District of the United Methodist Church.
In 1972 Gladstone accepted the position of pastor at the Wauwatosa United Methodist Church in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. He remained there until his appointment in 1975 as Dean of the Chapel at Albion College in Albion, Michigan where he also taught philosophy and world religions. In 1981 he became Executive Vice President of Albion College. He held that position until his retirement in 1983. In addition to his many achievements, Gladstone is a recognized authority on the subject of the philosophy of Karl Marx, lecturing widely on the subject. The title of his dissertation in 1958 was A Christian Criticism of the Philosophy of Karl Marx, With Special Reference to the Problem of Anthropology, Philosophically and Theologically Understood.
Immanuel Kant once said, "Live your life as though your every act were to become universal law." Gladstone held this belief very dear to his heart and lived each day with the morality and dedication required to be a leader in his community and to his family. His stories, life lessons and sermons continue to live on through the many people he reached and the communities he built.
He will be sorely missed.
A memorial service for Dr. Gladstone L. Brown and his wife, Anne Jeanette Brown will be held at a later date in Chagrin Falls, Ohio.
The family would like to extend a special thanks to Tammi Taylor for the care she provided to Gladstone.
Arrangements are by Cassaday-Turkle-Christian Funeral Home, 75 S. Union Ave. Alliance, Ohio 44601.
Written by Theresa Ann Brown and Kristen Elizabeth Brown
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