James Willard Brown

James Willard Brown passed away at the German Centre for Extended Care in West Roxbury, Ma. on November 28, 2023

Jim was born on May 7,1935 in the Chicago area.  Jim is survived by 3 children from his first family – David, Donna and Richard who live in Louisiana along with 32 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  His youngest child, James, passed away in June 2021. He is also survived by his wife Gwen of 47 years and her two children, Karen and Jeff. 

He has lived in many states beginning at a young age and often said he went to 4 different high schools.  He learned all the school songs and played the saxophone in one high school under the tutelage of his grandfather. Then he attended a technical school where he learned about the vacuum tube. At their graduation the class was told, “oh by the way, there is now a new product called a transistor”.

Jim went on to have many different vocations in his working years - to mention a few: United Steel, Fisher & Porter, Georgia Pacific all as an Instrument Engineer.  He joined United Controls in Houston which involved management of their facility and his last employment was with Conoco Oil Company.

Jim and Gwen lived in several places including Ponca City, OK, New Orleans, LA, Denver, CO, and Casper, WY, where they lived until he retired at the age of 59. He and Gwen then bought a trailer and traveled the US for almost two years. They then settled in New Hampshire before moving to Massachusetts.

Jim loved music and sang in church choirs in every place they lived as they tended to move about every 10 years. He was also involved in many other activities within the churches they attended. 

He passed away peacefully on November 28 after a short illness.  He will be missed by his family and friends.

A memorial service will be held at Christ Episcopal Church, 1132 Highland Avenue in Needham, MA on Friday, December 15 at 1:00 pm. The burial will take place immediately afterward in the Memorial Garden of the church.

The family is asking in lieu of flowers to send a donation to Alzheimer Assoc.