Ranger Exes Memorial - RHS Class of 1944

Veteran of WWII JOSEPH KENNETH BROWN passed away Sept. 23, 2015 at the age of 88, with burial in the Alameda Cemetery near Ranger, TX. He was born Oct. 12, 1926 to Joseph Shirley & Zeffie Cornelia (Pat) Brown in Alameda, TX. He attended Alameda schools and graduated from Ranger High School at Ranger, TX in 1944. Kenneth served in the U. S. Army, 126th infantry division, company M as part of the Japanese inland occupying forces during WWII. He married Salata Marie Tucker (RHS-1944) in May of 1946 at Eastland, TX upon his return from active duty. They resided in the Alameda Community where he ranched and farmed and eventually moved to Ranger where they resided for the past 55 years. Kenneth worked in the oil fields and continued in the oil industry with Lone Star Gas, Mitchell Energy and Southwestern Gas Pipeline. Kenneth was a member of the Mesquite and Rusk Street Church of Christ, served in the Ranger Volunteer Fire Department, board member of the Eastland County Water District, Eastland County Livestock Association officer and past president of the Alameda Cemetery Association. Most of all he loved being with family and spending time at the farm. He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Porter Wayne Brown and a brother-in-law, Erven Hummel. He is survived by his wife Salata of 69 years, six children: Sharon Diane Rogers (RHS-1965) and husband, Doug (RHS-1960) of Brownwood; Kenneth Dwaine Brown (RHS-1968) & wife, Sharon of Lamesa; James Charles Brown (RHS-1969) & wife, Keitha of Snyder; Carole June Brown Little (RHS-1974) & husband, Doug of Gorman; Dorothy Marie Brown Johnston (RHS-1978) & husband, Chuck of Granbury and Jerry Brown of McKinney. He is also survived by 13 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, one sister, Ouida Dale Hummel of Stephenville and numerous nieces and nephews.