Obituaries

Donald (Don) Van Arsdale Brown, 95

July 16, 2016

Donald (Don) Van Arsdale Brown, 95, of Lancaster, passed away on Saturday, July 16, 2016, at the Glen at Willow Valley Retirement Community. He was born on September 29, 1920 to Harmon and Janet (Nicholas) Brown in Midland, Michigan. He attended Michigan State University, where he graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in Chemistry in 1942. Don enlisted in the Navy in 1943 and served during World War II, taking part in the invasion of Guam. After the war, he returned to Michigan State, where he earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Chemical Engineering. He married Anita Dorothy Snel on September 14, 1946. In 1947 he took a job with the General Electric Company in Schenectady, New York. He spent most of his working life at the Silicone Products Department of General Electric, working first as a chemical engineer, then as a marketing manager.
Don and Anita moved to the Willow Valley Retirement Community in 2002, where they made many new friends, did volunteer work in the community, and enjoyed the culture of Lancaster County.
Don was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Schenectady, where he served on the Board of Deacons, as a Trustee, and as an Elder. For many years he enjoyed singing in the church choir. He also served on the boards of the Albany Bible Institute and the Schenectady Christian School. He was a member of a number of professional societies. He used his musical talents to play piano for nursing home services and was sometimes a lay speaker for services at the Schenectady County Jail.
He is survived by two children: the Rev. Timothy J. (Jean) Brown of Edgerton, Minnesota, and the Rev. Dr. Sally A. Brown of Princeton, New Jersey; four grandchildren, David (Suzane) Brown of Wood-Ridge, New Jersey, Sarah Brown of Ypsilanti, Michigan, Rachel Brown of Byron Center, Michigan, and Don (Kristina) Brown of Annandale, Virginia; four great- grandchildren; and a niece, the Rev. Dr. Elizabeth S. Kennard of Storrs, Connecticut. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Anita, his son-in-law, Peter Dunbar, his brother-in-law, John Snel, and his nephew, James Snel.
There will be a private memorial service. Interment will be private at Parkview Cemetery in Schenectady, New York. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Don’s memory to Samaritan’s Purse International, P.O. Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607 or www.samaritanspurse.org.

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