Virgil Eugene Brown, 85, of Fort Oglethorpe, died peacefully at his home, surrounded by his loving family and with his daughter holding his hand as he walked into Heaven’s gate.
Virgil became a Christian at 23, and loved the Lord with all his heart. He was a dedicated family man, and even through his sickness he always brightened up when the loves of his life, Brittany and Brynn, walked in the room.
He became a supporting family man at the early age of 15, where he was manager of the Home Store in Red Bank. Virgil joined the U.S. Navy at age 17 and upon his release from military service he went to Kirkman Technical School to study printing. He worked at Arcade Printing for 13 years and retired from Starkey Printing following 25 years of service. Following retirement, he opened his own business in 1988 called “The Little Brown Print Shop” on McFarland Avenue until his sickness forced him to retire in September 2012.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Jessie Lee and Alma Brown, granddaughters, Karen Brown and Ashleigh Thomison, and brother, J.T. Brown.
He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Norma Jean Gaston Brown; sons, Gary (Louise) Brown, and Chris (Maxine) Brown; daughter, Carol (Wade) Thomison; sisters, Reba Bell and Beatrice Landers; grandchildren, Brandon Thomison, Brittany Thomison Raines, Gary Brown, Jr., Christy Brown and Chris Brown, Jr; great-grandchildren, Brynn Raines, Taylor Brown, Ashley Brown and Thorne Brown; four brothers-in-law who he loved like brothers; several nieces and nephews. He and Jean opened their home and their hearts to 200 foster children over the years as well.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, Jan. 4, at 3 p.m. in the South Crest Chapel with Reverend Neal Brown officiating. Burial will follow in Lakewood Memory Gardens, South.
Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of your choice.
To share expressions of sympathy, visit his online guestbook at lane-southcrestchapel.com.
The family will receive friends on Thursday, Jan. 3, from 12-8 p.m., and Friday, from 9 a.m. until the funeral hour at the South Crest Chapel of Lane Funeral Home & Crematory, located at the end of historic Missionary Ridge, Rossville.