Charles L. "Charlie" Brown Jr.

November 17, 2017

Charles L. Brown Jr.

WARWICK- Charles L. “Charlie” Brown, 93, of South Holden Road and life time resident and historian, died Wednesday, November 15, 2017 at Heywood Hospital in Gardner.

Charlie was born in Warwick on April 7, 1924, a son of Charles L. Sr. and Ester M. (Crandell) Brown and grew up in Warwick and graduated from Orange High School in 1942.

Charlie enlisted in to the United States Navy on June 24, 1943 and served during World War Two as a Motor Machinist’s Mate, Third Class. He was honorably discharged on May 8, 1946. He lost his best friend. Winifred Fellows, during the war in 1944.

On October 28, 1950, Charlie married the love of his life, Elaine (Herk) and they just celebrated their 67th anniversary.

Charlie worked for the Torrington Company in Orange for many years until the company moved and then he went to work at the Millers Falls Tool Company before retiring. He had also worked at the Northfield Mount Hermon School.

Charlie loved Warwick and had researched and help write the “History of Warwick”, having hand written hundreds of pages of his memories. He was well known as the source to go to if you needed any information about Warwick.

Charlie enjoyed tinkering in his shop, keeping his yard in tip top shape, having a garden, hunting and fishing. He and Elaine loved to travel and had visited Amish country twice a year for over 20 years. They also enjoyed going to the New Hampshire beaches, England, Holland, Germany and Finland. On their 50th anniversary, they traveled cross country, going the northern route and returning the southern route.

Charlie was very involved in Warwick and was a trustee of the Unitarian Church, member of the Veterans Committee, member Warwick Historical Society, member Warwick Taxpayers’ Association and several other committees. He had done the research on the Veterans’ Memorial and was very proud when it was completed. Charlie had also been a member of the Athol-Orange Elks Lodge #1837.

Charlie had enjoyed visits to the Warwick Community School to talk about the town’s history.

Survivors include his beloved wife, Elaine Brown of Warwick; brothers in law, Richard Herk (Mariann) of Orange,  Arthur Herk (Sandi) of Athol and Elliott Thompson of Winchester, New Hampshire; sisters in law, Nan Hunt (George Sr.) and Susan Herk, all of Orange; many nephews and nieces and grandnephews and grandnieces.

A calling hour will be held on Wednesday, November 22, 2017 from 9:30-11:00 a.m. at Witty’s Funeral Home, 158 South Main Street, Orange.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 22nd at Witty’s Funeral Home in Orange with Rev, Dan Dibble of the Metcalf Memorial Chapel in Warwick officiating.

Interment with military honors will follow in the Warwick Center Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers donations are suggested to either the Town of Warwick for newsletter or the Warwick Historical Society, both at 12 Athol Road, Warwick, MA 01378.

Witty’s Funeral Home, 158 South Main Street, Orange, is directing the arrangements.

You may offer your sympathy online at www.wittyfuneralhome.com