Thelbert Dean Brown, of St. Johnsbury, passed away at St. Johnsbury
Health & Rehabilitation Center on April 18, 2012 at the age of 87. He
was born in Bethel, Vt., to Fremont Owen and Jane Maria (Hathorn)
Brown on Sept. 4, 1924, and grew up on the Brown family farm.
Thelbert attended Bethel schools and was a 1942 graduate of
Whitcomb High School. He was inducted into the U.S. Army in 1943
and served until 1946 where he learned radio repair and
communications. He was able to travel to many places, including
Hawaii and Japan, as a member of the 81st Infantry "Wildcat"
Division during World War II. He obtained his private pilot and
master electrician licenses, and was involved in the Rural Power
Electrification Project in 1947.
He married Marjorie Elva Tucker on June 14, 1947. He helped string
the first cable television system in Vermont at Roxbury and
Northfield in 1953. He loved tinkering with electronics, building the
first color television in Vermont in 1956. He was proprietor of two
radio/TV sales and service stores in Montpelier, was an educator
with the St. Johnsbury Trade School from 1956-70 and Adult Basic
Education. He also operated Brown's Texaco & Taxi Service for many years.
While his children were growing up, he helped run the Lincoln Street
Ski Tow, flooded the Portland Street Skating Rink, and televised Trade
School Basketball Games on the local cable system. He started the
annual tradition of televising the local Kiwanis Auction.
Thelbert was active in AARP and the Retired Teachers Association.
He also was a member of the Sons of the American Revolution and
American Legion, Post 3. He enjoyed attending DAR meetings and St. Johnsbury Town Band
functions with Marjorie. Thelbert is survived by his beloved wife, Marjorie; five daughters and
two sons, Neuane Adcox of Montpelier; Delaine Brown and his wife,
Elaine, of South Portland, Maine; Nola Forbes and her husband, David,
of St. Johnsbury; Doran Brown of Denver, Colorado; Lorna Brown of
Greenfield, N.H.; Laurel Rivers and her husband, Brian, of Fort Worth,
Texas; and Aleta Feeney-Brosseau and her husband, Paul, of Ascutney,
Vt.; grandchildren, Lindsay Adcox; Christopher and Donovan O'Connell; Jonathan Brown; Jennifer Adams and her husband,
Jonathan; Catherine Carrara and her husband, James; Nathaniel Forbes; Patrick Feeney and his wife, Kelli; and Melanie Rivers.
He is also survived by his great-grandchildren, Elizabeth; Samantha and Bode O'Connell; Stella Feeney; grandnephew,
Joe Voci; grandnieces, Jacqueline Voci Ramsay; Patty Voci Oranellas; and Lisa Voci Johnson; and two cousins,
Mary Jane Fox and Laura Hathorn.
He was predeceased by his parents; a sister, Muriel George; a niece, Constance Voci; three sons-in-law, Paul Feeney;
Michael Brown; and John Adcox; and a daughter-in-law, Michelle Brown.
A celebration of his life will be held at Fairview Cemetery in Bethel, Vt. at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Bethel Historical Society, P.O. Box 25, Bethel, VT 05032 and
St. Johnsbury Heritage & History Society, P.O. Box 223, St. Johnsbury, VT 05819.
The family thanks all the caring staff of St. Johnsbury Health & Rehab.
|
|
|
