Mr. Arnold Ellwood Brown, age 87, of Richmond, went to be with the Lord Friday, October 8, 2010.

He was the son of the late Dunlap E. and Gertrude Long Brown and was preceded in death by 2 brothers, Marvin Brown and Vernon Brown; a sister, Ruth Hayslett; 2 brothers-in-law, Ellis Hayslett and Harley Drummond and a son-in-law, Richard Miller.

He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Viola Brown; daughters, Dianna B. Miller and Sue Balsinger and her husband, Joe; a son, Wesley Brown and his wife, Judy; six grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren, 2 great-great grandchildren and a sister, Evelyn Drummond.

Mr. Brown was a veteran of the Navy serving in World War II.

He worked for Westvaco and was president of the local union in 1954, where he rose in ranks to be vice president of AFL-CIO. He worked until he was 72 years of age.

He was a long standing member of Fletchers Chapel and Lakeside United Methodist Churches and a member of the Masonic Lodge, Scottish Rites, ACCA Temple, VFW, Moose Lodge, American Legion and many other organizations.

The family received friends Monday, October 11, 2010 at Bennett Funeral Home, 8014 Lee-Davis Road, Mechanicsville, Virginia, and Tuesday, October 12, 2010 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Loving Funeral Home, 350 N. Maple Avenue, Covington, VA where a funeral service will be held on Wednesday, October 13, 2010 at 12:00 p.m.

Graveside rites will be conducted by the Covington Masonic Lodge AF & AM 171.

Interment will follow in Fletcher Chapel United Methodist Church Cemetery, Covington.

The family suggests that memorial tributes take the form of contributions to Fletcher Chapel Educational Building Fund, 205 Fletcher Chapel Road, Covington, VA 24426.

The Loving Funeral Home, Covington, Virginia, is handling the arrangements.