Dale Brown, 79, died Sunday, June 27, in Hot Springs, Ark., after a lengthy battle with cancer.
Dale was born on June 1, 1931, to Carlos William and Arlie Gertrude Sublette Brown.
Dale spent his early childhood in the Williams and Cameron areas. The family moved to Poteau in the 1940s. Dale excelled in sports at Poteau High School and later played for the football team at Poteau Junior College. He also enjoyed bowling, golfing, boating, softball and coaching youth teams later in life.
Dale’s young adult years included two years in the Air Force as a propeller mechanic, work on oil rigs and business ventures in the Poteau area including owning a taxi stand.
While driving a taxi, Dale met Wanda McCage of Panama. They were married on Wanda’s 18th birthday on Dec. 14, 1959, and she was by his side until his death.
Dale moved his young, growing family to Fort Smith, Ark., in 1969, where he became an insurance sales manager for Metropolitan Life and later Guaranteed Reserve Life companies.
In 1976, Dale moved the family back to Poteau to help his ailing parents. During the next several years, he took over operation of his father’s farm and business interests. During that span he expanded the feed store operation into a wholesale business that provided delivery of farm and veterinary supplies to feed stores across Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma. He sold the business several years ago.
Dale also built an underground home near his parents’ house south of Poteau. Through the years, the family farm hosted an assortment of lambs, cattle, pigs, rabbits.
Dale was a devout Baptist and shared his faith often. He was active in the bus ministry and made sure all the children who rode his bus went home with a candy bar or treat. He also taught Sunday School and even preached a few times when asked.
He was a lifelong scholar of Bible prophecy and even wrote a weekly column in the Poteau newspaper under the pseudonym Ben Forgiven. His weekly column was titled “Urgency.”
Later in life, he wrote a book about his studies of end-times scripture. The book, “Urgent Countdown to Eternity” was self-published and several copies were sold.
Dale and his wife moved to Hot Springs, Ark., in October.
His parents preceded him in death, as did a son, Michael, who died in a car accident in 1997.
He is survived by his wife, Wanda, of the home; three sons, Geary and wife Linda of Sallisaw; Randy and wife Shirley of Dothan, Ala; and Robin and Charlotte Brown of Shattuck; one daughter, Angela Riggs of Hot Springs, Ark.; one daughter-in-law, Donna Sue Pettry of Hot Springs, Ark.; one sister, Betty Ruth Miller of Valley Forge, Pa.; seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Funeral services were held 2 pm, Tuesday, June 29, 2010 at Evans Chapel of Memories in Poteau, OK with Rev. Rick Snyder & Rev. Jim Cook officiating. Interment followed in Oakland Cemetery, Poteau, OK.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Dale Brown
Dale Brown, 79, died Sunday, June 27, in Hot Springs, Ark., after a lengthy battle with cancer.
Dale was born on June 1, 1931, to Carlos William and Arlie Gertrude Sublette Brown.
Dale spent his early childhood in the Williams and Cameron areas. The family moved to Poteau in the 1940s. Dale excelled in sports at Poteau High School and later played for the football team at Poteau Junior College. He also enjoyed bowling, golfing, boating, softball and coaching youth teams later in life.
Dale’s young adult years included two years in the Air Force as a propeller mechanic, work on oil rigs and business ventures in the Poteau area including owning a taxi stand.
While driving a taxi, Dale met Wanda McCage of Panama. They were married on Wanda’s 18th birthday on Dec. 14, 1959, and she was by his side until his death.
Dale moved his young, growing family to Fort Smith, Ark., in 1969, where he became an insurance sales manager for Metropolitan Life and later Guaranteed Reserve Life companies.
In 1976, Dale moved the family back to Poteau to help his ailing parents. During the next several years, he took over operation of his father’s farm and business interests. During that span he expanded the feed store operation into a wholesale business that provided delivery of farm and veterinary supplies to feed stores across Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma. He sold the business several years ago.
Dale also built an underground home near his parents’ house south of Poteau. Through the years, the family farm hosted an assortment of lambs, cattle, pigs, rabbits.
Dale was a devout Baptist and shared his faith often. He was active in the bus ministry and made sure all the children who rode his bus went home with a candy bar or treat. He also taught Sunday School and even preached a few times when asked.
He was a lifelong scholar of Bible prophecy and even wrote a weekly column in the Poteau newspaper under the pseudonym Ben Forgiven. His weekly column was titled “Urgency.”
Later in life, he wrote a book about his studies of end-times scripture. The book, “Urgent Countdown to Eternity” was self-published and several copies were sold.
Dale and his wife moved to Hot Springs, Ark., in October.
His parents preceded him in death, as did a son, Michael, who died in a car accident in 1997.
He is survived by his wife, Wanda, of the home; three sons, Geary and wife Linda of Sallisaw; Randy and wife Shirley of Dothan, Ala; and Robin and Charlotte Brown of Shattuck; one daughter, Angela Riggs of Hot Springs, Ark.; one daughter-in-law, Donna Sue Pettry of Hot Springs, Ark.; one sister, Betty Ruth Miller of Valley Forge, Pa.; seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Funeral services were held 2 pm, Tuesday, June 29, 2010 at Evans Chapel of Memories in Poteau, OK with Rev. Rick Snyder & Rev. Jim Cook officiating. Interment followed in Oakland Cemetery, Poteau, OK.
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1 comment:
Dale was a special Man who made a positive impact on children and their families. He was a giver, giving of himself in many ways to his church and community. He is now in a City not made by human hands where no sorrow or sickness will be seen!!
Bill and Florence Peters / Sallisaw Ok (formerly of Poteau)
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