Vince Brown

HARTFORD CITY, IN—

Vince Brown, age 64 passed at 5:15 a.m. Wednesday, February 3, 2021 at Miller’s Merry Manor in Hartford City.

A native and life resident of Hartford City, he was the eldest of four children, born Sunday, April 29, 1956 to Charles LeRoy and Julia Irene (Huffman) Brown.  He enjoyed all sports, starting at a young age, excelling in baseball and football.  He was a lineman on the Blackford High School football team, that won State Championship in 1974.

After graduation from Blackford High School, he received his Bachelor’s degree in 1979, graduating from Dakota Wesleyan University.  He also continued his post-graduate studies at Taylor University in Upland.  Vince worked as a teacher’s aide for many years, in the Blackford School system.

Vince was well known in the community over forty years, for his dedication to youth sports. Vince was proud of his “volunteerism” and dedication to youth sports, coaching Little League baseball for 29 years. He also coached Pee Wee football league, Junior High (Middle School) football and one year as a freshman football coach.  After coaching, his participation with youth sports continued as public address announcer, scorekeeper and statistician for various age groups and sports including high school. He also “kept the scoreboards” and had also tended yard markers (“chain gang”) for football games.  Vince also had been an announcer in the 9th district, for school sports.

In addition to attending almost any sporting event Blackford High School had, Vince was a Chicago Cubs fan, an Indianapolis Colts fan and was faithful to his church:  Calvary Christian the Lighthouse Church.   

He leaves behind his wife of nearly fourteen years, Kathy (Kreischer) Brown, to whom he married  on the Little League diamond, on April 14, 2007;  his kids:  Kelly Opdycke (Joel) and Craig Opdycke (Ayane); twin grandkids “on-the-way”:  Liam and Scarlett; one brother, Bud (Diane) Brown; two sisters:  Nancy Prue and Kristy Ramirez, as well as many nieces and nephews.

…he’ll always be Kathy’s ‘lineman’…

A celebration of Vince’s Life, will be held at Calvary Christian the Lighthouse Church, 2101 N. Walnut St., Harford City, on Thursday, April 29, 2021, with Pastor Troy Kaufman presiding.  Time of service will be announced at a later date.

Memorial contributions are requested to: Blackford Youth Baseball, P.O. Box 735, Hartford City, IN 47348 or to the Calvary Christian Lighthouse Church – Youth Building Fund, 2101 N.Walnut St., Hartford City, IN 47348.

Waters Funeral Home of Hartford City is handling cremation arrangements.  Online condolences may be sent to the family at:  watersfuneralhomes.com

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