Dudley Brantner Brown of Bunker Hill, WV died on December 13, 2010 in Winchester Medical Center, Winchester, VA surrounded by his family. He was born in Martinsburg, WV on March 11, 1928 to the late Marshall Edgar and Naomi Ruth Brantner Brown.
Dudley was a veteran of World War II, joining the U.S. Navy in 1943 at the age of fifteen, and serving almost four years. He was on Omaha Beach on D-Day, June 6, 1944 at the age of sixteen. He was honorably discharged in 1947.
He graduated from Shepherd University in 1956 with a Bachelors Degree in Biology, where he also lettered in Football. He also received a Medical Technologist Certification from Washington County Hospital, Hagerstown, MD. He retired from General Motors in 1993 after 20 years of employment. While working at General Motors, he worked part-time at the Jefferson Memorial Hospital in Charles Town, WV. He was previously employed at the VA Medical Center in Martinsburg.
Dudley was a 60 year member of the Grand Lodge of WV A.F. & A.M. Robert White Lodge No. 67, the Lebanon Chapter No. 2, R.A.M., Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, S.J., USA 32nd Degree, Shriner – Osiris Temple, A.A.O.N.M.S. of Wheeling, WV, the Eastern Panhandle Shrine Club of Osiris Temple of Wheeling, WV, and the Tall Cedars of Lebanon, Shenandoah Forest No. 150, of Martinsburg.
He was a member of the Loyal Order of the Moose, Lodge #1283, Winchester, VA, Legion of the Moose, Shenandoah Valley, Virginia Chapter # 47, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Winchester, VA, Lodge #867, American Legion, Conrad Hoover Post #21, Winchester, VA, Veterans of Foreign War, Post #896, Martinsburg, United States LST Association (served on the LST 335 during WWII), Equal Rod and Gun Club, Wardensville, WV (avid hunter and fisherman), the National Rifle Association, the Izaak Walton League of America, Jefferson County Chapter. He was a member of Carpers Valley Golf Club, Winchester, VA for over 30 years (avid golfer having 3 holes-in-one), later a member of Bowling Green Country Club and previously a member of the Martinsburg Country Club. He was also a Life Member of the Shepherd University Alumni Association.
Dudley coached Little League Baseball many years – being instrumental in helping to develop Oatsdale Little League Park. He also coached Midget League Football for many years. He was a volunteer for Meals on Wheels. He currently was serving on the Board of Cherry Grove Homeowners Association.
He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Norma Jean Lancaster Brown. He is also survived by his first wife, Doris Ann Kidwiler Brown, and their two daughters, Susan Brown Bales and husband Martin Bales, and Jennifer Brown George. Two granddaughters, Carrie Bales Ross and husband Chris and Cammie Bales Kain and husband Scott. He has one great-grandson, Grayson Ross. He is also survived by one sister, Camille O’Rourke of ElmCroft, one sister-in-law, Freda Ann Bartlett, of Bridgeport, WV, one stepson, Edwin H. Lancaster, Jr., two stepdaughters, Jane Lancaster Funk and husband Carl and Jill Lancaster Kee and husband David, six step grandchildren and four step great-grandchildren. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one sister Marcella Roach and brothers-in-law Paul O’Rourke, Mike Roach and Gail Bartlett.
Graveside Service with Military and Masonic Rites will be held at 11:00 AM, Thursday, December 16, 2010 at Rosedale Cemetery with Dr. James Riley officiating. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.
Memorial contributions may be made in his memory to Hospice of the Panhandle, 122 Waverly Court, Martinsburg, WV, the Blue Ridge Hospice, 333 West Cork Street, Winchester, VA, or to the Martinsburg Little League Association, Martinsburg, WV.
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