Gene Brown

Gene Brown, of Lewistown, known to many as ‘Brownie’ or ‘Coach, passed away Thursday, January 12, 2023, at Geisinger-Lewistown Hospital, he was 84 years old.

He was born on March 20, 1938, in Lewistown, and a son of the late Eugene B. and Laura (Weikel) Brown.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Janet Horner.

He is survived by; his wife, Shirley (Bingman) Brown, whom he married on April 9, 1960; children, Kim Moist and husband, Greg, of McVeytown and Kraig Brown, of San Francisco, CA; a brother, Tom Brown, of Berkley Springs, WV; a sister-in-law, Sue Bingman, of Yeagertown; two grandchildren, Kelsey Laub and husband, Ryan, of Lewistown, Kolby Moist and wife, Dani, of McVeytown; five great-grandchildren, Brayden Laub, Aubrey Laub, Evan, Owen, and Willow Moist; nieces  and nephews, Kathy Zeigler, Roger Brown, Sean and Eric Fagan, Mike and Allen Bingman.

Gene was a member of the Rhodes Memorial United Methodist Church, the Fellowship Sunday School Class.  He also served on various boards of the church.  

He was a 1956 graduate of Chief Logan High School, and a 1960 graduate of Millersville State Teachers College where he earned his BS Industrial Arts degree.

Early in life, he taught at East Juniata High School for 2 years, then at Chief Logan High School, in Industrial Arts for 33 years, retiring in 1993.

Gene was an owner/operator of Brown’s Antiques in Lewistown for over 35 years, and part-owner of BYC Partners in Construction for 40 years. He was an assistant football coach, a head basketball coach at Chief Logan high School for 11 years, where he won several titles, and a coach at Penn Highlands for 3 years. He was instrumental in forming Penns Creek Chapter of Trout Unlimited.

Pap loved spending time with family and was very fond of his grandchildren and great grandchildren.   He enjoyed traveling in his motorhome, camping with friends, and he spent many summers in Montana fly fishing.

A celebration of Gene’s life will be held at 11 a.m., on Friday, January 20, 2023, at Rhodes Memorial United Methodist Church, 500 Highland Ave Ext, Lewistown, PA 17044, with Pastor Steven Small and Pastor Tom Morningstar officiating.

Arrangements are under the care of Heller-Hoenstine Funeral Homes, Woodlawn, 200 N. Main St., Lewistown.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Gene’s memory to Memorial Fund c/o Rhodes Memorial United Methodist Church.

Online condolences may be offered to the family at www.hellerhoenstinefuneralhome.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Gene Brown, please visit our floral store.