James R. Brown

He was born in Pendleton, Indiana on July 26, 1934. He was the oldest of three children born to Earl and Thelma Brown. He graduated from New Castle High School in 1952. Jim then went on to attend Hanover College. He says he had a “that’s the one” experience as a freshman and noticed a girl with striking eyes in a crowd of 200 students as he was cheerleading at a basketball game. Her name was Ruth Joyce Haase and their love journey began. They transferred to Indiana University for their last two years of college and married on May 13, 1956. They have celebrated almost 64 wonderful years of marriage together. Jim’s love and commitment to Ruth these 64 years has been such an example of selfless love to his children and grandchildren all these years.

Jim came to Florida after marrying Ruth and tried the motel business briefly, then went into furniture manufacturing for a few years and finally lawn maintenance and lawn spraying. Jim really thought he was coming to Florida to be a writer or radio personality but after a few years in lawn maintenance discovered he had a great gift in landscaping and started his company called “Supreme Gardens”. His landscaping work was such a joy for Jim as he created pleasing home, building, and church landscapes. He felt Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church and Westminster Academy were two of his most fulfilling landscaping achievements.

Jim served in the Army. He was in active duty for six months and in the Reserves for five years. It was at this time that he met several life long, important friends.Jim served joyfully and faithfully on the school board of Westminster Academy and later became the Director of Development for the school after many years of landscaping as a career.

Jim’s greatest hobby and vocation, plants, often overlapped. He loved spending time with his children and grandchildren growing vegetable gardens as well as regular and exotic plants. He has a plaque in his garden that says, “Life started in a garden.” And Jim adds, “We should enjoy what God has given us.”

For seventeen years Jim volunteered at WAFG the Christian Radio station when it was part of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church. He did the afternoon drive time segment of Christian music from 4-6 p.m. weekdays. The show was called “Homeward Bound”. For many years he has enjoyed volunteering for Creation Studies Institute as well as The Garden Club at John Knox. He made many great friends over his 45 years at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church and benefited from its ministry greatly. Jim and Ruth have enjoyed attending New Hope Community Church for the past six years and are grateful for the many friendships that have been developed.

Jim was loved by so many and will be remembered for his loyalty, compassion, generosity and faith in God. He trusted in the Lord with all his heart and showed us how by loving his wife, family, and friends well. He believed he was graciously chosen by God to belong to Him. He wanted others to know they must turn to God, repent, and trust in Christ alone for a true relationship with God. So that when your last day is called you too can confidently declare like Jim, “ I am ready and Homeward Bound for Heaven.”

Jim is survived by his wife Ruth Brown, his son Ron and Susan Brown of Panama City, his daughter Bev and James Downward of Casselberry, and his daughter Bonnie and Greg Thompson of Fort Lauderdale.

His grandchildren Faith Thompson and Scott Pamplin, Jesse Thompson, Hope Thompson, Christopher Brown and Anna Kathryn Clarke , Anna Shay Brown and Lewis Armistead, Danny Downward, Shelley Downward and David Downward. Great Grandchildren Charlotte Pamplin, Katherine Pamplin, Emma Rhymes Brown, Phoebe Flowers Brown.

He is survived in death by his two sisters Judy Brown McCoy and husband Jim McCoy of Muncie, Indiana and Janet Brown Wake of Washington, Indiana and many nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life Ceremony will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers donations may be sent to New Hope Community Church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.