Obituary for Paul E. Brown
Paul Elzworth Brown, 81, of Fayetteville, WV, passed away at home on Sunday, February 5, 2023. Paul was born on September 15, 1941, in Mt. Hope, WV, to the late William J. Brown and Geneva Grindstaff Brown. He was raised by his paternal grandparents Lon and Sadie Grindstaff.
Paul attended schools in Mt. Hope and Columbus, Ohio. He graduated in 1960 from Mount Hope High School, where he received electrical training from RCVTC. He took additional studies from WVUIT, the Mine Academy in Beaver, and WVU. Paul was a member of USAR and National Guard units from 1964 to 1970. He was stationed with Military Police in Ft. Knox, KY, and Ft. Gordon, GA. Paul married Carol Bailey in 1964 and became the proud father of three sons.
Those left to cherish his memory include his loving wife of 59 years, Carol Bailey Brown, three sons Paul Corbit (Water), John Mahlon (James Huggins), and Daniel Patrick (Julie Warburton), special cousins Mary Jean and Bob Posey of Pickerington, Ohio, close lifelong friends, Tom Vallery of Tiffin, Ohio, and blacksmithing friends Terry and Connie Carr of Huntersville, WV.
Paul loved life and was never tired of learning. His 30-plus years in the coal industry as a state electrical inspector for WVMHST left him with countless stories from the coalfields. All you had to say was the word “coal” or “electrical” and he was off and running. He covered 13 counties as an electrical inspector and inspected deep mines, mountaintops, load-outs, river barges, tipples, rock quarries, and preparation plants. Paul was one of the first union coal miners to receive an electrical certification in 1971 and has maintained that certification annually.
He proudly donated his time to the Nazarene and United Methodist Churches, Boy Scouts, and Fayette County Food Pantry. Paul enjoyed taking part in blacksmithing classes, woodworking, and log cabin restoration. He contributed his skills to Watoga State Park by re-wiring log cabins and making bolts for the Herns Mill Historic Covered Bridge. With the help of his sons, he made a dozen or so full-size one-of-a-kind cradles for newborns. His love of children was shown when he visited schools, fire departments, churches, and car dealerships dressed as Santa Claus. Hundreds of children, big and small, climbed on his lap and whispered their Christmas wishes to him. He laughed with them, cried with them, and prayed with them. Some of his recent nurses remembered him from their childhood Christmases.
Paul didn’t preach religion, he lived it 24/7. The pages of his bible were well-worn. When Danny was younger and was caught in some mischief, he would plead with his Papa, “Just go ahead and spank me, but please don’t pray with me.“
Paul was an incredible man and he set a high standard. He was passionate, kind, sincere, honest, loyal, strong, and always strived to do the right thing. He gave respect when it was earned. His faith in God was unwavering and if you knew him, there wouldn’t be a doubt in your mind that he’s in Heaven right now, checking the ground monitoring system and writing violations if he found any. We’ve always loved you Papa, and will forever, and forever is a long time.
Memorial services will be held at 2:00 PM on February 11, 2023, at High Lawn Funeral Home Chapel.
Friends may gather with the family one hour prior to the service.
High Lawn Funeral Home is assisting the family.
Paul attended schools in Mt. Hope and Columbus, Ohio. He graduated in 1960 from Mount Hope High School, where he received electrical training from RCVTC. He took additional studies from WVUIT, the Mine Academy in Beaver, and WVU. Paul was a member of USAR and National Guard units from 1964 to 1970. He was stationed with Military Police in Ft. Knox, KY, and Ft. Gordon, GA. Paul married Carol Bailey in 1964 and became the proud father of three sons.
Those left to cherish his memory include his loving wife of 59 years, Carol Bailey Brown, three sons Paul Corbit (Water), John Mahlon (James Huggins), and Daniel Patrick (Julie Warburton), special cousins Mary Jean and Bob Posey of Pickerington, Ohio, close lifelong friends, Tom Vallery of Tiffin, Ohio, and blacksmithing friends Terry and Connie Carr of Huntersville, WV.
Paul loved life and was never tired of learning. His 30-plus years in the coal industry as a state electrical inspector for WVMHST left him with countless stories from the coalfields. All you had to say was the word “coal” or “electrical” and he was off and running. He covered 13 counties as an electrical inspector and inspected deep mines, mountaintops, load-outs, river barges, tipples, rock quarries, and preparation plants. Paul was one of the first union coal miners to receive an electrical certification in 1971 and has maintained that certification annually.
He proudly donated his time to the Nazarene and United Methodist Churches, Boy Scouts, and Fayette County Food Pantry. Paul enjoyed taking part in blacksmithing classes, woodworking, and log cabin restoration. He contributed his skills to Watoga State Park by re-wiring log cabins and making bolts for the Herns Mill Historic Covered Bridge. With the help of his sons, he made a dozen or so full-size one-of-a-kind cradles for newborns. His love of children was shown when he visited schools, fire departments, churches, and car dealerships dressed as Santa Claus. Hundreds of children, big and small, climbed on his lap and whispered their Christmas wishes to him. He laughed with them, cried with them, and prayed with them. Some of his recent nurses remembered him from their childhood Christmases.
Paul didn’t preach religion, he lived it 24/7. The pages of his bible were well-worn. When Danny was younger and was caught in some mischief, he would plead with his Papa, “Just go ahead and spank me, but please don’t pray with me.“
Paul was an incredible man and he set a high standard. He was passionate, kind, sincere, honest, loyal, strong, and always strived to do the right thing. He gave respect when it was earned. His faith in God was unwavering and if you knew him, there wouldn’t be a doubt in your mind that he’s in Heaven right now, checking the ground monitoring system and writing violations if he found any. We’ve always loved you Papa, and will forever, and forever is a long time.
Memorial services will be held at 2:00 PM on February 11, 2023, at High Lawn Funeral Home Chapel.
Friends may gather with the family one hour prior to the service.
High Lawn Funeral Home is assisting the family.