Hyndsville-Leslie D. Brown, Jr. went to heaven with his wife and a caregiver by his side on Saturday, October 13, 2018. He was the son of Leslie D. Brown, Sr. and Antoinette (Zulch) Brown. Les was born on August 14, 1924 at his family home in Hyndsville.
He had a hard childhood working on family farms in the area where the adult male workers expected him to do the same work they were doing. He talked many times of playing and fishing in the nearby creek, ice skating in the winter and playing near the tracks and riding the train. Les attended a one-room schoolhouse in Hyndsville in grades one through six.
He then went to the Golding School in Cobleskill and graduated in June of 1941. After Dec. 7, 1941, Les desperately wanted to join the Marine Corps and defend our country.
However, he was only 17 and his father would not sign papers to allow him to go. When Les turned 18, he signed, to join the USMC and enlisted on Dec. 15, 1942, and attended basic training in Parris Island, SC.
He went on to Radar School-Signal Battalion in Camp Lajeune, NC. Then he was transferred to Miramar Air Station, CA and shipped to the South Pacific Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, Guadalcanal, Bougainville and Green Island in the Bismarck Archipelago. He returned to the states in Jan.
of 1945 and was stationed at Cherry Point, NC. He was awaiting deployment for the invasion of the island of Japan when the nuclear bombs were dropped on Aug. 6th and Aug.
9th to end WW II. Upon returning home, he became an active member of the Fred L. Stilson American Legion Post #57 and the former VFW Post #5088 in Cobleskill. Les returned to Hyndsville, married Norma Wilty, and worked at Fenimore Fabrics and General Electric.
After being “bumped” out of G.E., he got a job with the Grand Union as a meat cutter. Les retired after thirty years, but then went right back to work for the store on a part-time basis. His personality and commitment to his job and devotion to his employers made him a highly valued employee.
He was a lifelong member of the former Hyndsville United Methodist Church and served on the Zion Rural Cemetery Board for many years. Les is survived by his friend, partner, wife and caregiver of 33 years, Mary Ann (Claes) Brown, whom he married April 15, 2007; two daughters: Dale Gersch of Averill Park and Lesley (Steve) Nelson of Albany; three grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his sisters and brothers-in-law, Barb and John Heroth of Stone Arabia, NY, who visited often to talk, laugh, eat, work and celebrate holidays; Charlie and Donna Claes of Brooktondale, NY, John and Sandi Claes of Stone Arabia, and Bill and Beth Claes of Ephrata; special friends and neighbors on Coss Hollow Road, Norm and Bonnie Downing and Jerry and Linda Tripoli.
Les was predeceased by the love of his life and soulmate, Norma Wilty Brown; his sister, Lois Reed, and brother-in-law, Carl Reed, and granddaughter, Jasmine Johnson. A period of visitation will be held on Wednesday, October 17, 2018 from 2 to 4PM and 6 to 8PM at Mereness-Putnam Funeral Home, 171 Elm St., Cobleskill. A funeral service will be held at the funeral home at 8PM, immediately following the visitation on Wednesday with a Poppy Service by the Schoharie County American Legion Honor Guard.
Cremation will follow the service and a graveside service with military honors will be held at 10 AM on Saturday, October 20, 2018 at Zion Rural Cemetery, Seward, NY. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Legion Fred L. Stilson Post #57, PO Box 252, Cobleskill, NY 12043. Family members would like to thank Dr. Stephen Strasser for his care and concern.
They also thank Les’ caregivers: Dee, Jay, El, Chris, Kat and Elsa. You are all caring and loving people. In addition, special thanks to Catskill Area Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc. for their care and guidance.
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