Dr. Joseph S. Brown, 95, of McVeytown, passed away at 3:27 p.m. on Monday, July 20, 2015 at his home.
Born on January 6, 1920 in Academia, Juniata County he was a son of the late Dr. Joseph S. and M. Florence (Sherlock) Brown. He is survived by his wife, Dr. Rae A. (Laylon) Brown, with whom he was blessed to share 38 years of marriage.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his children: Allison Ann Brown, of Thailand, Joseph S. Brown, III and his companion Virginia Sue Long, of McVeytown, Kimberly Haigis and her husband Kurt, of Ferrisburg, VT; step son Ty Howard and his wife Linda, of Nashville, TN; siblings, Burnette B. Runkle, of Belleville, Barbara Buchanan and her husband William, of West Point, MS, two grandchildren, Lillian S. Haigis and Charlotte M. Haigis; three step grandchildren, Cole Howard, Ella Howard and Jack Howard.
One brother, Dr. Richard S. Brown and one sister, Maxine Quigley, preceded him in death.
He was a 1938 graduate of Lewistown High School, 1942 graduate of Bucknell University, Lewisburg and a 1945 graduate of Thomas Jefferson Medical College, where he completed his internships and residency. During his graduation, Dr. Brown received a 1st Lieutenants commission in the Medical Corps of the U.S. Army. During WW II, he served as an anesthesiologist at Walter Reed Medical Hospital. After leaving the military, he returned to Thomas Jefferson for post graduate education which included preceptorships and surgical intensive care.
Dr. Brown was a member of the Lewistown Presbyterian Church for more than 50 years, and the Republican Century Club of Mifflin County. He was instrumental in the development of the Pennsylvania Society of Critical Care Medicine, where he was a founding member, Past President and council member of the Pennsylvania Society of Critical Care Medicine. Each year the Drs. Joseph and Rae Brown Award is given to an individual who demonstrates outstanding support of the SCCM. He also served as chairman of the Critical Care Unit at Lewistown Hospital. He was very active in the state and national American Heart Association, serving as a state and national delegate for many years. He also served on the board of directors as vice president and president of the PA Heart Association.
In 2004, at the age of 84, Dr. Brown retired from his career as an internist/cardiologist spanning 58 years, of which 54 years were spent dedicated to Lewistown and the surrounding communities. From 1952 until 1981, he served as Director of Pulmonary Medicine at Lewistown Hospital. He also served as Chairman of Medicine at Lewistown Hospital for 25 years. In 1957, he was certified by the American Board of Medicine and in 1990 he was inducted into the American College of Critical Medicine as a Fellow. He also was instrumental in starting the coronary care unit at Lewistown Hospital. Through his community service, Dr. Brown served as a CPR instructor at the PA State Fire Academy, Lewistown.
He became certified as a ring-side physician at the U.S. Junior Olympic competitions and from that, he presided over boxing events at Rockview Prison and other correctional facilities.
One of Dr. Browns most passionate past times was training bird dogs and horses. Dr. Brown has been active in bird dog field trials as a handler, sponsor and judge for over fifty years campaigning German Shorthair Pointers in events sanctioned by the American Kennel Club and the American Field. He has won in local, regional and National championships with many dogs; was the primary sponsor of the Indiantown Gap Bird Dog Club and was nominated as a Life Patron in the Bird Dog Foundation.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, July 28, 2015 from the Lewistown Presbyterian Church with Rev. James Thomas and Rev. Robert Zorn officiating. Graveside services will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, July 28, 2015 at the Academia Cemetery, Academia, where the Juniata County Veterans Council will accord full military burial honors.
A viewing will be held from 6 – 8 p.m. on Monday, July 27, 2015 at the Brown Funeral Homes, Inc., 100 Bridge St., Mifflintown.
The family will provide all funeral flowers and kindly ask that memorial donations be made in Dr. Brown’s memory to the American Heart Association, 1019 Mumma Road Wormleysburg, PA 17043 or to a charity of one’s choice.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Dr. Joseph S. Brown, please visit our
Heartfelt Sympathies Store.
