Preston E. Brown

Preston E. Brown, age 88, of Goreville, Illinois,  passed away Wednesday, October 19, 2022 at V.A. Medical Center in Marion, Illinois.

Preston was born January 19, 1934 in Marcellus, Michigan, a son of Merton and Anna (Thornburg) Brown.   He grew up in Michigan and joined the US Navy serving four years in Japan.  He married Ruth Arthur on July 28, 1962 in Portsmouth, OH.  When he was younger he belonged to the Great Lakes Navy Clown Club.  He and Ruth did many parades in cities like Cincinnati, OH, Nashville, TN, Spokane, WA and Denver Colorado, to name a few.  

Preston was a 70 year member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles.  He joined Battle Creek Areie #299 in 1952.  Currently he was a member of Carbondale Aerie #2569.  He was past Illinois State President (1992-1993), and past Central Regional President.   

He is survived by his spouse Ruth Brown of Goreville, IL; two sons, Kenneth David (Laura) Brown of New Ispwich, NH and Kevin Andrew Brown; four grandchildren, Bernadette Marie (Anthony) Astwood, Andrew M. Brown, Evan M. Brown, and Genevieve E. Brown; and one sister, Muriel (Floyd) Hurt of ND.  He is preceded in death by his parents, Merton Fletcher and Anna (Thornburg) Brown and one brother, Jim Brown.

The family will hold private burial in Michigan at a later date.