Elton L. Brown

Mr. Elton Lewis Brown, 99, of North Fort Myers, Florida, formerly of Richmond, passed away on Saturday, August 9.

Elton was born on February 4, 1926, in Cardington, Ohio to Bryant William and Fern Marie Purvis Brown. He was a graduate of Chesterville (Ohio) High School.

Elton entered the U.S. Navy on February 1, 1944. He was assigned to the USS Dade APO-99. He was soon assigned to special training in diesel engine school and special training in landing craft. He was placed back on his ship and on January 7, 1945, sailed off from San Francisco to the Pacific Theatre. On March 26, he was assigned to the first wave of the invasion of Okinawa. He was standing aboard the Dade in Tokyo Bay on September 2, 1945, watching the formal surrender of Japan.

Elton married the former Dorothy Dalrymple on February 4, 1948. They moved to Richmond in 1962 when he was named as Service Manager in the Plastics Division of the former NATCO. In 1975, he and a partner formed a company that rebuilt plastic injection molding machinery. He retired in 1991 as Vice President and Chief Engineer of Plastic Machinery Inc. in Eaton, Ohio.

Dorothy and Elton moved to Fort Myers, Florida in 1993. He was a member of Central United Methodist Church, The Golden K Kiwanis and a former member of the Elks. Elton also presided as the president of Florida State Shuffleboard Association Southern District.

Elton is survived by his two sons, William A. Brown and his wife, Mary, and Micheal E. Brown and his wife, Darla; three granddaughters, Jennifer, Katherine and Theresa two grandsons, Bryan and Kevin; four great-grandsons, Issac, Carter, Eli, Andrew; and two step-great-granddaughters, Maci and Whitney.

Elton was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Dorothy, and one grandson, Jonathon Brown.

Pastor Steve Matthews will conduct a funeral ceremony at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, August 18, at the Smith-McQuiston & Webster Funeral Home, 321 US 27 South, Fountain City. Interment with military rites will follow in Willow Grove Cemetery.

Family and friends may gather for visitation from 10:30–11:00 a.m. on Monday, August 18, at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are encouraged for the Willow Grove Cemetery Association, PO Box 197, Fountain City, IN 47341 or Harry Ray Post 65, American Legion, 109 North 6th Street, Richmond, IN 47374.