Benjamin Porter Brown Jr. went into God’s hands on Thursday, November 13, 2014, at the Genesis Nursing Home in White Sulphur Springs, WV.
Born April 25, 1920, he went to meet his loving wife, Lillian Jackson Brown; sister, Eveline Holroyd Meadows; and parents, Benjamin Porter and Zeltha Sowers Brown.
Ben is survived by his children, B. Thomas Brown, M.D., of Ormond Beach, FL, and Karen Jackson Bowling of White Sulphur Springs; four grandchildren, Elizabeth T. Brown, M.D., of Nashville, TN, J. Schuyler Brown of Jacksonville, FL, William R. Bowling IV (Judy) of Columbus, IN, and Jackson L. Bowling of White Sulphur Springs; his only niece, Sandra Holroyd Campbell of Fredericksburg, VA; and his only grandchild, William R. Bowling V of Columbus, IN.
After graduation from West Virginia University, Ben received his law degree from Washington and Lee University and initially practiced law in Summersville, WV, for almost 30 years. He then moved to Parkersburg, WV, where he was chairman of the board and chief trust officer of Union Trust National Bank. Shortly after that, he moved to Lewisburg, WV, where he was a trust officer and retired there in the community that he loved.
Ben was always involved in his community and his beloved West Virginia. He served on the board of governors of the West Virginia State Bar and was president of several Rotary Clubs in the various cities that he called home. He was active in the Salvation Army, was a 32nd degree Mason, and a member of the Beni Kedem Shrine Temple in Charleston, WV. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge #76 AF&AM in Summersville. He was a member of the Elks Clubs in Beckley, Charleston, Huntington, and Lewisburg, all in West Virginia.
Always a devout Methodist, Ben served or chaired the administrative boards of several of the churches he attended. He loved being a member of the choir, and, in his later infermed years, enjoyed watching the services on television.
Ben was an avid sportsman, loving golf, hunting, fishing, and the WV Mountaineers. He lived his life to the fullest and enjoyed the people of West Virginia.
The family would like to thank those many people who made Ben’s later years more enjoyable – from bridge at the Elks Club to dinner with friends.
Services will be held Monday, November 17, 2014, at the Wallace & Wallace Funeral Home in Lewisburg with visitation beginning at 1 PM before the service at 2 PM and a committal service at Greenbrier Memorial Gardens following the service.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Ben’s name to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 6931 Arlington Road, Suite 200, Bethesda, MD 20814, or the charity of your choice.
Online condolences may be made by visiting www.WallaceandWallaceFH.com.
Wallace & Wallace Funeral Home in Lewisburg is in charge of arrangements.
Obituary originally punlished in the November 14, 2014 edition of the West Virginia Daily News.