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Elvin J. Brown born April 4, 1922 departed this life on March 24, 2016.
He was the first son born to Elvin Gilbert and Ruth Horning Brown. He grew up on the family farm in Larned, Kansas attending rural school and graduated from Zook High School in 1940. He entered McPherson College in 1941. His college roommate, Dale, invited him to their home for Thanksgiving Dinner and it was there that he met his future bride, Doris Elaine Huxman. Phone calls and letters remained their only communication when Elvin left college to join the U.S. Navy in September, 1942. He trained as a pilot in Boulder, Colorado but it was while stationed at the Naval Air Technical Training Center in Norman that he married Doris at the Brethren Church parsonage in Oklahoma City on December 2, 1944.
After being honorably discharged from the Navy in 1946, Elvin returned to McPherson College and completed his undergraduate degree. He started law school at the University of Oklahoma in 1947 and worked as a desk sergeant at the Norman Police Department during that time. He graduated from Law School in 1950 and served as Assistant County Attorney from 1950-1955 until he was elected Cleveland County Judge. Nine months later, Governor Raymond Gary appointed him as the District Judge for Cleveland, McClain and Garvin Counties where he presided for 24 years until retiring in 1979. He then entered private practice in Norman until his retirement in 2010. A strong sense of commitment to community has characterized Elvin Brown. Elvin was very active in professional and civic organizations throughout his career. He was a member of the Cleveland County, Oklahoma and American Bar Associations. He served on the Cleveland County Law Library Board for over 30 years and was a faculty member of the Judicial College in Reno, Nevada for 9 years. He also served on the Board of Bar Examiners for the Oklahoma Bar Association. He served on the local executive board for the Salvation Army for over 30 years and was no stranger to ringing the kettle bell at Christmas time. He regularly donated blood to the American Red Cross and donated over 30 gallons over the years. He also served on the board of Health for Friends in Norman from 1995-2009.
Elvin was active with the Boy Scouts and was elected a commissioner in 1972. He was awarded the “Silver Beaver”, a council-level service award for his 30 years of service to the scouting program. Recipients of this award are adult leaders who have made an impact on the lives of the youth through service given to the Boy Scouts Council.
Elvin was active in the Norman Lions Club, serving as President 1964-1965 and District Governor 1966-1967 and had over 40 years of perfect attendance. Elvin was active in the First Christian Church in Norman where he was president and served as an adult Sunday school teacher for 30 years.
Elvin was a Mason, member of both Orders of the Eastern Star and Amaranth and was a past Worshipful Master of the Norman Chapter 38 AM & FM. He was very active in the India Unit of the Shriners who entertained parade crowds all over the United States in their miniature blue corvette cars. He often donated tickets for the Shriner’s Circus to courthouse staff members and their families.
He was a member of the 40 & 8 Veteran’s organization and assisted with many parties and activities for the residents of the J.D. McCarty Center in Norman. The Oklahoma Bar Journal recognized Judge Brown’s service to the community in a recent issue and Debra Loeffelholz, Elvin’s longtime law partner, summed up his service to the community, “He believes that part of the responsibility of an attorney is to give back to the community that he is part of”, she said. “Elvin has lived that responsibility”.
Elvin was a devoted husband, father and friend. His life exemplified an abiding respect for democratic institutions enhanced by a sincere belief in the value of community service and faith in God.
He was preceded in death by his parents Elvin G. and Ruth Ida Horning Brown, two younger brothers, Emmert and William Brown and two children, Carla Annette Brown and Randal Elvin Brown.
He is survived by his devoted wife of 71 years Doris Elaine Brown, daughter Rhonda Brown Bjork and husband Daniel, his son Douglas Allen Brown and his granddaughter Bethany Celeste Brown. His sister-in-law Ruth Marie Meyer and husband Al, brother-in-law Willis Huxman and wife Elsie, cousins Kermit Huxman, Kathryn and husband Duane Hanshew, Wilmer Moffett, Loma and Les Putnam, Beula Strong and many friends.
A memorial service will be held at the First Christian Church, 220 S. Webster Ave, Norman, Oklahoma, on Thursday, April 14, 2016 at 2:00 pm with reception to follow. Burial will be later in a family plot at Lakeview Memorial Cemetery in Wichita, Kansas.
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