Anthony J. Brown, 83, rural St. Marys, died at 1:02 p.m. May 15, 2013, at Otterbein, St. Marys.

He was born Nov. 5, 1929, in Auglaize County, to Roy and Alodia Oen Brown. On Aug. 20, 1955, he married Dorothy H. Homan at Precious Blood Catholic Church in Chickasaw, and she survives.

Also surviving are five sons, Stanley (Deborah) Brown, Gary Brown, Kevin (Sherri) Brown, Thomas Brown and Dale (Lori) Brown, all of St. Marys; four daughters, Jane (David) Huber of St. Marys, Sharon (Rex) Hawkey of Cattlesburg, Ky., Julie (Jon) Roberts of St. Marys, and Mary (Steve) Bargdill of Laramie, Wyo.; seven brothers, Francis (Ruth) Brown of Botkins, the Rev. Harold Brown of Bellevue, Alvin Brown of New Bremen, the Rev. Joseph Brown of Carthagena, John (Pamela) Brown of Celina, David (Jeanette) Brown of St. Marys, and Dr. Virgil (Mary Ellen) Brown of Wapakoneta; four sisters, Mary Yahl of Botkins, Ann Leinweber of New Bremen, Agnes (Cletus) Schmerge of La Salle, Colo., and Theresa (Richard) Ramga of Wapakoneta; five sisters-in-law, Ruth Brown of Wapakoneta, Velma (Sylvester) Berning of Sidney, Joan Homan of New Bremen, Joann Homan of Chickasaw and Lillian Homan of New Bremen; two brothers-in-law, Donald Homan of St. Marys, and Leo (Diane) Homan of Maria Stein; 26 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by a brother, Paul Brown; two sisters-in-law, Ruth Brown and Mary Brown; six brothers-in-law, William Yahl, Richard Leinweber, David Smith, Maurice Homan, Harold (Rosemary) Homan and Arnold Homan.

He was a veteran of the United States Army, having served in the Philippines.

A life-long farmer, he also retired as an equipment operator from Midwest Electric Co-operative in St. Marys. For many years, the family operated Brown's Roadside Market, offering sweet corn, melons and farm-fresh vegetables to area consumers.

He was a member of Holy Rosary Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus Council #1592 (past Grand Knight), both in St. Marys, and Holy Angels Prayer group in Sidney. He was proud to have served on the parish council of his church when they erected a new sanctuary in the 1970s.

His favorite pastimes included hunting, fishing, bowling, photography and listening to music.

Mass of Christian Burial is 11 a.m. Monday at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, the Revs. Harold Brown and Barry Stechschulte officiating. Burial with graveside military honors will follow at Gethsemane Cemetery in St. Marys.

Calling is 2-8 p.m. Sunday and 9:30-10:30 a.m. Monday at Miller Funeral Home in St. Marys.

Memorials may be given to Friends of Holy Rosary, Holy Rosary Church building fund or Otterbein benevolence fund.

Condolences may be left at www.millerfuneralhomes.net.