J. Ralph Brown
1926 - 2016
Obituary
J. Ralph Brown, 90, of Salina, passed
away on Tuesday (Dec. 13, 2016) at his home.
Funeral services will at 2:30 p.m.,
Sunday (Dec. 18, 2016) at Broadway Colonial Funeral Home in Newton.
Visitation with the family will be held
prior to the services, beginning at 1 p.m.
Graveside services and interment will
be at 10 a.m. Monday (Dec. 19, 2016) at Greenwood Cemetery in Newton.
Ralph was born in Newton on April 27,
1926. He graduated from Newton High School in 1944 and joined the
Naval Air Corps for two years. He attended both Oklahoma A&M and
University of Kansas, where he received a Bachelor Degree in
Education/Counseling. During this time, he played football for both
colleges and participated in the Orange Bowl game in 1948 with K.U.
He was inducted into the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame.
Ralph's teaching and coaching career
included high schools in Sublette, Junction City and Emporia. He
followed with earning a Master's Degree in Education at Kansas State
Teachers College in 1957. Ralph was a football coach at Washburn
University, in Topeka, from 1958 to 1961.
Ralph changed to a business career,
working in insurance. He started out at Cimarron Insurance Co., in
Cimarron, then with Kansas City Life, eventually moving to Salina,
where he began Kansas Financial Services. Ralph retired in 2014.
Indulging in life fully, Ralph became a
private pilot, loved to play golf, took major fishing trips and also
traveled abroad and around the United States. He also dabbled in
raising Quarter Horses. With sports being a great love, a lot of his
time was spent attending and watching events.
Ralph is survived by his children,
Steve Brown of Jackson, Tennessee, Marilyn Brown of Overland Park and
Denise Brown of Overland Park. Others survivors include 14
grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; his sister, Jeanne Quilty of
Wichita; his brother, Cliff Earl Brown of Overland Park; his
half-siblings Merle and Susan; and many nieces and nephews.
Ralph was preceded in death by his
parents, Joseph M. and Etta Mae (Gaston) Brown; brother, Lelus;
sister, Pauline Curteman; and half-sibling, Murray Brown.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations
may be given to Kansas Humane Society. Contributions may be sent to
Broadway Colonial Funeral Home, 120 E. Broadway, Newton, KS 67114.
Condolences may be left at
www.broadwaycolonialfh.com
The family of J. Ralph wishes to thank
Shari Walls, Lorna Wait and Kevin Mannell for the significant time,
patience and assistance given to our father.
