Raymond Brown

OXFORD - Raymond H. Brown, 89, of Ashton Street, died Tuesday, February 2, 2010, at St. Vincent Hospital in Worcester. He was predeceased by his first wife, Bertha E. (Johnson) Brown of Oxford, who died in 1982; and his second wife, Mary E. (Mitchell) Gage Brown of Oxford, who died in 2009. He is survived by two children, Douglas R. Brown of Woodstock, CT, and Ruth E. Mathurin and her husband Paul of Oxford; seven step children, Barbara O. Choiniere and her husband Bob of Dexter, ME, Linda L. Dodge and her husband Jim of Oxford, Harry L. Gage Jr. of Unity, ME, Evelyn L. Gadoury of Oxford, Terry M. Fike and her husband Bob of Oxford, Timothy M. Gage and his wife Mary of Winfield, PA, and Roger L. Gage and his wife Collette of Oxford; a sister, Ruth Linblad of Florida; two grandchildren, two great granddaughters, and many step grandchildren and step great grandchildren. He was predeceased by two brothers, Everett Brown and Howard Brown. He was born in Oxford, the son of the late Elmer H. and Marion E. (Anthony) Brown, and lived most of his life in Oxford. He graduated from Charlton High School in 1939 and was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II. Mr. Brown was a supervisor at American Optical in Southbridge for 43 years, retiring in 1982. He was a member of the Oxford United Methodist Church in Oxford and a member of the United Methodist Men's Club. Mr. Brown was a trustee of the Oxford United Methodist Church and was a member of the Quinebaug Lodge of Masons in Quinebaug, CT. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010, at the Oxford United Methodist Church, 465 Main St., Oxford. Burial will be in the spring at Elmvale Cemetery in Woodstock, CT. A calling hour will be Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010, from 9:45 - 10:45 a.m. at the church prior to the funeral service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Oxford United Methodist Church, 465 Main St., Oxford, MA 01540. Paradis Funeral Home, 357 Main St., Oxford, is directing the arrangements.