John Bob Brown

John (Bub) Brown           June 5, 1924 – August 16, 2017

Born June 5, 1924 to Wilson S Brown and Marian E Brown. Lifelong resident of Scituate.

Graduated Scituate High School 1942 with a concentration in Industrial Arts. He played Varsity Football, Basketball and Baseball.

Served in the Army Air Corps (Air Force) in November 1942 to November 1945.

Stationed for sixteen months in Watson Lake, Yukon Territory as an airplane mechanic.

John often remarked:

“The temperature dipped 50 to 58 degrees below zero for thirty-six hours. Gas masks froze before you could walk one hundred feet.”

He served in the U.S Navy Reserve from 1956 – 1962.

John married Ethel Hollis on September 2nd, 1945. On this day, Japan signed the final and formal surrender documents which ended World War II.

As a boy, Bub worked on his Grandfather’s farm, known as Fitts Farm. His father Wilson Brown took over the business which evolved into a trucking and hauling operation. Bub worked as a truck driver and shovel operator for his father, Alan Wheeler Construction and the Boston Sand and Gravel.

During his senior year in High School, Bub would finish his school day, grab a quick snack and work a six-hour shift delivering truckloads of sand used to make concrete at the Fore River shipyard

Their daughter Ellen was born in December of 1949.They moved into The Fitts farmhouse at 225 Stockbridge Rd.

John Jr was born in 1950 and Wilson in 1952.

In 1952, Bub formed Fitts Farm Construction. He specialized in foundation and road excavation. He coached Scituate Little League Baseball. Many of his players look back on their years playing for Bub and remember his fairness and motto: “Everyone gets to play”.

He served on the Scituate Water Commission from 1953 to 1964 and as Scituate Highway Supervisor from 1970 to 1986. He was President of the Plymouth County Highway Association and was then elected President of the Massachusetts Highway Association. After retiring as Highway Supervisor, he worked for Scituate Concrete Pipe Corp.

John and Ethel traveled to Hawaii, England, Germany and France. One of the most poignant experiences of their lives was visiting Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, France.

In 1997, John and Ethel returned to Watson Lake. “The Signpost Forest” “had been originally created by homesick servicemen. The hand painted signs on each post pointed in the direction of their home town. They marveled that it had grown to twenty-five thousand as they added yet another sign: “Bub and Ethel Brown, Scituate, Massachusetts”.

Bub was an enduring presence at the Beechwood Congregational Church.

He served as Master of the Satuit Lodge in 1969., 1993, 1994, 1997 and 2001.

With the help of his Masonic Brothers, he organized regular bottles and cans collection shifts at the Scituate Transfer Station.

With the proceeds, the Satuit Lodge awarded over $48,000 in scholarships to Scituate High School Graduates.

John Brown lived a life of service to the United States, to Massachusetts, to his hometown of Scituate, to his spiritual community, to his Masonic Brothers and to his family.

As a member of The Greatest Generation, Bub’s life is embodied by the Naval Charter of Core Values:

Conduct myself in the highest ethical manner.

Fulfill my legal responsibilities in my public and personal life.

Be loyal to my nation.

Care for the personal and spiritual well-being of my people.

Exhibit the highest degree of moral character, professional excellence, quality, and competence in all that I do

John Brown is survived by Ethel Brown, his wife of seventy-two years; his sons, John Brown Jr. and wife Jing and Wilson Brown and his wife Marlene; his grandchildren Katherine Curran , Alex Brown, John E Brown, Samantha Griffin; his great grandchildren Zoe, Logan, Autumn, Hope, Jack and Ava; his sister, Laura May Houghton. His daughter Ellen passed away in 2010.

Friends and Family are invited to celebrate Bub on Monday, Aug. 21, 2017 from 4-7 pm with a Masonic Service at 6:30 pm in McNamara-Sparrell Funeral Home, 30 Central St. (off Rt. 123, near State Police Barracks), Norwell Center. A Funeral Service will be celebrate on Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2017 at 11 am in First Trinitarian Congregational Church, 381 Country Way, Scituate MA. Graveside service immediately to follow.

Reception: Rice Hall, First Trinitarian Congregational Church, immediately follows graveside service. In lieu of flowers, donations to honor Bub may be made to the Magical Moon Foundation, PO BOX 83, Marshfield Hills, MA. 02051 or to the Satuit Masonic Lodge, 344 Country Way, Scituate, MA. 02066.

 Service Information