Obituary of Emory John Brown

Emory J. Brown, age 102, of State College died February 16 at Foxdale Village following a two day illness. He was the oldest man at Foxdale. Emory was born August 2, 1921 in Paradise, Lancaster County. His parents were Adam John and Mary Josephine Stevens Brown. On July 16, 1949 he married Beverly Ann Reznor who died on September 12, 2020. They were married in Greenville, Pa and met at Penn State.

Emory is survived by two daughters, Barby Brown Kursh and her husband Wayne of Fort Myers , Florida, and Nancy Delricco and her husband Mark of State College. He has two grandsons, Vince Delricco and his wife Megan of Denver, and Matt Delricco and his fiancée Jordan of Philadelphia.

Emory graduated from Paradise High School in 1938. He grew up on a farm in Lancaster County among the Amish. His first five years of education was at the Belmont School, a one room school. He served in the United States Army Air Force as a staff sergeant from 1942 to 1946 during WWII. His first year was spent at Indiana University studying engineering. After the program was discontinued, he was sent overseas with the 14th Air Force in the China Burma India Theater.

After his discharge he came to Penn State University on the GI Bill, and graduated in 1948 with a Bachelor's degree in Agriculture Economics and Rural Sociology. He was a member of Alpha Zeta Fraternity, Skull and Bones and the debating team. He received his PhD in Sociology in 1953 from Michigan State University. His tenure at Penn State began in 1952 and continued until his 1985 retirement as a Professor Emeritus in Rural Sociology. In 1965 he was awarded a National Science Foundation senior post graduate fellowship at the University of California Berkeley. In 1969, he was named Assistant Director and Dean for Extension in the College of Agriculture. Emory spent a year of sabbatical at the University of Wisconsin in Madison and taught summer school at 11 different universities in the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico. He also had a sabbatical in Washington DC at the National 4 H Center. In 1983 he returned to the Department of Ag Ec and Rural Soc.

The Penn State Community and State College provided Emory and Bev with many opportunities including the Presbyterian Church, Centre Hills Country Club, Town and Gown, The Elks Club, Penn State Football, bridge and poker groups, golf, swimming and skiing. Emory and Bev hosted many parties and bridge clubs at their house on E. Irvin Ave. Their door was always open for a drop in or planned gathering and happy hour. There are fond memories of Emory and Barby skiing in Keystone Colorado for over 30 years. Emory helped many local children learn to ski at Skimont, Black Moshanon and Oregon Hill. He enjoyed many winters in Kelly Greens, Fort Myers Florida. Emory's passion for traveling was a major theme. He traveled to six continents, including many countries throughout the world.

His enthusiasm for living a full life continued when he moved to Foxdale at age 91. His positive energy, work ethic, liberal thinking and faith kept him going. He loved everyone. The Foxdale community provided him with many happy moments swimming, playing bridge and poker, parties and companionship. His birthday parties over the years were something he enjoyed and looked forward to.

The family appreciates the care, support, and friendship provided by the Foxdale residents and staff over the past twelve years. A celebration of life will be held on Emory's birthday at 1 p.m. on  August 2, 2024 at Foxdale Village. Burial will be at Pine Hall Cemetery at the convenience of the family.

Memorial contributions may be made to: 

Foxdale Community Benefits Fund

Foxdale Village

500 E Marylyn Ave

State College, Pa 16801