Adapted from the Alton Telegraph (22 Nov 2004):

Edward B. Brown, 87, died at 7 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 21, 2004, at Rosewood Care Center in Alton.

He was born Dec 16, 1916, in Waverly, Ill., to Edward and Gertrude (Bailey) Brown.

He married the former Alvena Wagner Oct. 8, 1938. She died Oct. 9, 1981. He later married the former Flora Rhine Dec. 7, 1985. She preceded him in death Dec. 16, 1988.

He retired in December 1979 from Shell Oil as an insulating foreman after 38 years of dedicated service. The U.S. Army veteran proudly served his country during World War II and was a member of the Bethalto American Legion Post 214.

He is survived by three daughters and two sons-in-law, Marilyn and Marlin Schoenbaum of Moro, Judy and Vic Unterbrink of Bethalto and Gloria Brown of Florissant, Mo; seven grandchildren and their spouses, Lisa and Carl Dixon of East Alton, Lori and Jeff Tite of Dorsey, Dane and Carol Schoenbaum of Palmyra, Pa., Sherry and Jim Scott of Bethalto, Michael Unterbrink of Carbondale, Ill., Jeff and Amy Unterbrink of Cottage Hills and Erik Brown; 10 great-grandchildren; a brother, Robert Brown of Springfield, Ill.; six sisters, Leona Piercy of Jacksonville, Ill., Virgie Heriford of Waverly, Norma Fletcher of Modesto, Ill., Barbara Burnell of Jacksonville and Josephine Druktenis and Evelyn Johnson, both of Santa Maria, Calif., three stepdaughters, Helen Nagy of Moro, Carole Richardson of Trenton and Sue Bail of Visalia, Calif.; stepgrandchildren; stepgreat-grandchildren; a special friend, Vivian Vaughn of Alton; other extended family and many friends.

In addition to his wives, he was preceded in death by his parents; a son, John Edward Brown; a brother, Johnny Brown; three sisters, Mildred Roberts, Frances Green and Louise Jeffers; and two half-brothers, Leonard and Herman Brown.