Born Richard Samuel Brown on January 12, 1948. He was the third son born to Charles and Tina Mae (Kuhlwein) Brown. He lived 20 years 5 months 3 weeks and 2 days and in that short time he made quite a name for himself around Ashville. Although he never knew the joy of fatherhood or even of being a husband he lived quite a life in his short time on our earth.

He was a regular at church every Sunday as acolyte for the alter candles. His favorite past time besides sports was with the Luther League and their activities. Rick was quite the socialite and he made friends very easily. He even played Santa Claus for his Aunt’s Kindergarten classes four years in a row before he left for the military to be a Marine. (His talents were many and his contrasts were unending.) He was always first to volunteer for whatever needed to be done.

Rick worked his summers at the dehydrator plant on Rte 104 where he operated a chopper and spent most of his time doing work of some sort. He said it was really dirty work although he liked his job, he said he would have to find something else to do… that is when he was drafted. He was no slacker and he was no stranger to hard work.

Rick attended Ashville Elementary School before attending Teays Valley High School where he graduated in 1966. So he lived all his life in Ashville. He only left town to visit relatives or to join his group in the service at boot Camp in San Diego.

Rick excelled in school sports especially baseball which he loved the game, and his studies came easy to him. He was considered the class clown by many and a best friend by most. The teachers all thought of his as a wonderful student always upbeat. An absolute joy to be around and to know. That smile of his was ever-present right to the end as the Viet Nam pictures reflect… He never got to see these pictures, he sent them home to be developed and they came back in the package from home labeled…"Undeliverable / Deceased"

Every one loved Rick because of his big smile and his ‘helping hand’ ways. He had dark brown eyes that you could get lost in they were so deep. He loved to dance and he and his dance partner won nearly every dance contest they ever entered… (back when they did that…Sock Hops and Saturday night dances at the gym.)

He stood on Grandma Brown’s front porch saying good by to her and she said so long and he told her that he would probably never get to see her again…learning of his death, she never stepped foot on that porch again as long as she lived.

His remaining family is thinning out and getting on in years and feel it only fitting that his flag and medals be donated to the post. The flag in this case is the actual one that was on his coffin at his funeral and folded by the Honor Guards. The flag was presented to his mother as well as his war medals and all are to be dedicated / donated to the VFW Post that is named for him in his memory, in the hopes that he will live on in the hearts and memories of his friends - far beyond our time here. He was a wonderful person and human being and is truly missed by all who knew him…