Visitation
Bangs Funeral Home, Inc.-
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Email Details
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209 W Green St.
Ithaca, New York 14850
October
27,
1939
27,
1939
December
12,
2019
12,
2019
Thomas Richard Brown, 80, passed away peacefully at his home on the 12 th of December 2019. Tom was born October 27, 1939 in Elmira, New York. He graduated from Wellsboro High School and LaTourneau College in Longview, Texas with a Bachelor of Science degree in Welding and Mechanical Engineering.
In April 1963, he married Linda Pease from Nelson, Pennsylvania. They were happily married for fifty six years. Tom, also known as Zip by his family and friends, and Linda started a family in Crooked Creek, Pennsylvania. Tom started his career as an engineer for Bendix. The couple then moved to Ithaca where he began work as an engineer for Ithaca Gun. His career then took him to Cornell University, where he served as the Director of Physical Plant and then moved to Ithaca College where he served in the same capacity.
In retirement, Tom dedicated his time developing his thriving business, Locust Lumber Company. The company provided lumber to many high profile jobs such as a 50,000 square foot playground for Governor’s Island located in New York City, The New Year City Botanical Gardens and locally the Adirondack Trail and Finger Lakes Land Trust. Tom was considered one of the top experts in locust lumber in the country. He collaborated with Environmental Protection Agency to develop his own strains of black locust trees.
Tom’s passions included hunting, fishing, reading and collecting.
Tom is survived by his wife Linda Brown, their three children Shane Brown and wife Jackie, Craig Brown and wife Holly, Heather Stanton and her husband Matthew. Tom had six beloved grandchildren Kyle Brown, Kelsey Brown, Madison Brown, Hunter Brown, Katie Stanton and Jack Stanton. Tom was preceded in death by his father James A. Brown and his mother Helen L. Brown of Wellsboro, PA brothers James Brown of Lake Norman, NC and Jerry Brown of Campbell, NY.
Calling hours will be held in celebration of Tom’s life from 3-5pm Wednesday, December 18th at Bangs Funeral Home, 209 West Green Street, Ithaca, NY 14850. The family requests in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Tom’s name to The Newfield Public Library. Donations by check can be dropped off at the library or mailed to PO Box 154, Newfield, NY 14867 or online at https://newfieldpubliclibrary.org/
Tom was widely known and loved by many and will be missed greatly.
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