Ralph Norton Brown, 89, of Tallahassee, passed away on April 7, 2010, at the Big Bend Hospice House.
A memorial service was held at First Baptist Church Tallahassee, on Monday, April 12, at 11:00 a.m., with burial at Roselawn Cemetery for family only.
He was born in Blountstown, Florida, on May 21, 1920. He was a veteran of World War II, achieving the rank of Master Sergeant while serving in the United States Army Air Corps. After discharge, he attended the University of Florida and was graduated from the School of Pharmacy in 1951. Following graduation he moved to Tallahassee and was a pharmacist at various pharmacies, becoming the owner of Brown's Pharmacy in 1960. He continued as owner until his retirement in 1985. During his retirement he continued to serve as a volunteer pharmacist for the Neighborhood Free Health Clinic, located in the old Lincoln High School on Brevard Street. He was a 50 year member of First Baptist Church Tallahassee, serving on the baptism committee and singing in the First Joy Senior Adult Choir.
He was a member of Jackson Lodge No. 1F&AM, Marzuq Shrine Temple, Tallahassee Elks Lodge 937, Tallahassee Kiwanis Club, Tallahassee 100 Club and several professional organizations.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Sara Lynn Johnson Brown; two sons, Charles Edward Brown and wife, Carol, Paul Norton Brown and wife, Barrie, all of Tallahassee; one daughter, Laura Brown Potts, and husband, Danny, of Marietta, Georgia; one sister, Betty Jane Brown Moore, of Tallahassee; and seven grandchildren, Meredith Brown, New York City, Michael Brown, Tallahassee, Brian Potts, Athens, Georgia, Kevin Potts, Statesboro, Georgia, Joshua Brown, Tallahassee, Whitney Brown, Tallahassee, and Caylin Brown, Tallahassee.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles Robert and Alma Johnson Brown; two brothers, John Wesley Brown of Port St. Joe and Thomas Raymond Brown of Tallahassee.
Memorial contributions may be made to Big Bend Hospice or the First Baptist Church Joy Senior Adult Choir.
