More detail on this person: LTC (Ret) Charles T. Brown, Jr., 82, of Palmer Township, passed away
on June 19, 2016, at the Atria Senior Living Community in Bethlehem, PA. Born June 9, 1934, in
Wilson Borough, he was the son of the late Charles T. and Mildred R. Hottenstein Brown. He was
preceded in death by his beloved wife of over 59 years, Lorraine V. Brown. They celebrated their
59th wedding anniversary on July 11, 2013. He was a loving son, brother, husband, father,
grandfather and great grandfather. Along with his wife, he was the owner and operator of Charlie
Brown's Christmas Tree Farm and the Volendam Windmill Museum, both in Holland Township, NJ.
He was a 1952 graduate of Wilson High School. He was a member of both the Wilson Warrior football
and track teams. He was a 1970 graduate of the University of Nebraska-Omaha where he received a BA
in Management. He was an outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting and fishing.
He was an avid aviator who loved flying both helicopters and airplanes. He served for 22 years in
the U.S. Army, retiring in 1975 as a Lieutenant Colonel and Engineer Branch Officer. He was a Master
Army Aviator with over 6000 hours of flight time in helicopters and fixed wing aircraft. He traveled
all over the world and served overseas assignments in the Republic of Korea and France. He completed
two combat tours in Vietnam. He was highly decorated during his military career, receiving multiple
awards for service and heroism.
His awards include, but are not limited to the Distinguished Service Cross, Legion of Merit,
Soldier's Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross (1 Oak Leaf Cluster), Bronze Star (1 Oak Leaf Cluster),
41 Air Medals (one Valor Device) and the Army Commendation Medal. He loved the Army, serving the
United States of America and most of all, he loved serving alongside other great American
Servicemen.
He and his family returned to Palmer Township after his military retirement. His first civilian
position after his military career was as the Business Manager for the Northampton County Vocational
Technical School. He then moved on to be a Human Resource Manager for Ecolaire Condenser in
Easton, PA. He then worked briefly as the Business Manager for the Lehigh County Vocational
Technical School. His final employment prior to full retirement was with McGinley Mills in
Phillipsburg, NJ, where he held the position of Vice President of Manufacturing.
Charles was an active member and officer of a number of clubs and organizations throughout his life.
He was a member and former officer of St. Paul's III Lutheran Church, Palmer Township. He served as
the President of the Lehigh Sportsmen's Association. He was a member of and served as a Director for
the New Jersey Christmas Tree Growers Association. He was a member of the Army Aviation
Association of America, the Association of the United States Army, and The National Rifle
Association. He was also a lifelong member of the Wilson Borough Republican Club. Charles
volunteered with the Boy Scouts of America, Minsi Trails Council and with the Easton YMCA.
He is survived by two sons, Charles T. III and his wife Katherine and Lieutenant Colonel (Retired)
Randall K. and his wife Kathryn, both of Holland Township, NJ; two sisters, Janice Barber and her
husband Wayne of Traverse City, Michigan and Mildred Edelman and her husband George of Highland,
Michigan; four grandchildren, Katie Ellen Henzel and her husband Barrett, Heather Lorraine Page and
her husband John, Joni May Osborne and her husband Ryan and Randall Kent Brown Jr., and six
great-grandchildren, Jesse, Caroline, Katie and Emma Page and Ryan Jr. and Jasper Osborne, as well
as five nephews.
Services will be held at 2pm Friday in the Strunk Funeral Home, Inc., 2101 Northampton St., Wilson
Borough. Call Friday 1-2pm in the funeral home. Entombment will be immediately following the service
in the Northampton Memorial Shrine.
Offer on-line condolences at www.strunkfh.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the
American Cancer Society at https://donate.cancer.org or to the St. Luke's Hospice at
https://5639.thankyou4caring.org
This information was last updated 06/24/2016
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Date posted on this site: 08/31/2024
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