85 years ago today, June 7th in 1926, a baby boy was born to a family in the city of Pittsfield, Massachusetts. He was fourth in the family, joining three sisters, a mom and a dad. Three years later his youngest sister was born and the family was complete. He was named Ralph Edward Brown and he is our father and grandfather.
His mother, the original Annie Hall, struggled to nurse him. He seemed unable to take either breast milk or regular formula and almost died. It was the milk man, aware of the concern of the family, who suggested to Annie that she try sweetened condensed milk. Having nothing to lose, she diluted this in a bottle and to everyone’s astonishment and as though ordained by God, he survived and thrived. To this day he claims he owes his love for sweet things to his early diet.
At four years old, tragedy struck the family with the death of his father during a hospitalization for a broken leg. Annie, left with five children and a broken heart, raised the family with grit and grace during an era when life was not kind to a widow and her children. Our father recalls a community of friends and relatives, many from Morningside Baptist Church in Pittsfield, who walked alongside the family during this time.
Ralph grew into a young man with a personality and character as large as his smile. He entered the Air Force branch of the military on graduation from high school, but instead of flying planes and braving enemy combatants, by his own admission he spent his entire military experience in bureaucratic paperwork, filling out tedious forms in triplicate. Two years later thanks to the GI bill he was able to attend Gordon College, at the time a Bible college in the Fenway area of Boston, and it was there that he met his life-long love, Pauline. Pauline evidently stole his heart after a couple of “Joyces” and perhaps a “Ruthanne” – he has never been totally clear on this. They were married in 1951, sixty years ago this year, amidst mountain laurel and a host of relatives and friends.
They welcomed their first-born on March 16th, 1953 – a boy, Edward Ralph and a year and a half later their lives dramatically changed. 1954 had
them taking a 6-week journey by ship to a country that would become their home for the next 35 years, the country of Pakistan. Ralph became as comfortable sitting cross-legged on the floor in a Marwari village and eating onion curry as he was preaching from the pulpit at Morningside Baptist, followed by a pot-luck church supper. Over the next few years, they also added Stanley, Thomas, Marilyn and Daniel, followed by a host of grands and great-grands – in all a clan of many.
In 85 years of life there are many stories. Some are known by your children, while others remain untold. If we wrote all our stories and memories, this post would be tediously long instead of a loving tribute. But there are three things that our dad and grandpa has held to in his life. His love of God, his love of family and his love for fun. From his legendary ability to swish a basketball through the hoop from the midway point on the court to his absolute consistency in an alcohol-free lifestyle; from discussing ordination of women to discussing infant baptism; from his first granddaughter Melanie to his last grandson, Jonathan, he has remained a steady, Godly example and force in a world that often shifts with the wind. Today he is 85 years strong and is enjoying an uncommon birthday. Happy Birthday Dad! Happy Birthday, Grandpa! We love you! May it be a joyous celebration.
Bloggers Note: This post is coauthored by Marilyn Gardner & Edward Brown – two of Ralph’s children but we believe it speaks for the entire clan! Take a look at Ed’s blog: Our Father’s World – A conversation about God, His creation & our role in it.
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Marilyn R. Gardner 
What a loving tribute to a wonderful man! Happy Birthday, Uncle Ralph!
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Marilyn, Perhaps if God spares him on this earth he will see a grandnephew Jason Sarte as that doctor !!
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Marilyn, Perhaps if God spares him on this earth he will see a grandnephew Jason Sarte as that doctor !!. BTW, grandnephew Andrew Cornelius is now a resident orthopedic surgeon here in Pennsylvania !!
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That was written so perfectly, he is described just as I know him. Thanks for writing this for him, I think he will cherish it so very much! It means a lot to see you guys come together and write such a beautiful piece about such an incredible man. I am honored to call him my grandpa!
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Such a beautiful comment! Thank you. I think he’ll like that we came together too!
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Wonderfully written Marilyn and Ed! Happy birthday Uncle Ralph! So glad that I have been able to witness part of the history. My son Andrew still talks of playing hoops with his Great Uncle Ralph at my parents house when they lived in Winchendon. Uncle Ralph still has such a wonderful, youthful heart!
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Thanks Judy – forgot to mention in the post that he and my mom have a great love for their nieces and nephews and grand nieces and nephews. I think Dad would have loved to have a doctor and a professional basketball player in the family!!
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Words told half the story; the pictures conveyed the rest. Do share your many such memories. We love listening to real life stories!
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Thank you! What a lovely comment. The pictures paint a thousand words quote still rings true.
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Thanks for this tribute to your dad and to our friend. We want to join others who are sending greetings to Ralph on this his special day. We wish for him JOY and continued good health in the days and years ahead. Our lives have been richer because of knowing the Brown clan. Happy Birthday Ralph.
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Bettie – lovely comment. You have been a part of our lives, his life, since well before I was born. Thank you for that. And Pakistan and the Addletons are intertwined in our minds and hearts.
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It was my privilege to help welcome Ralph into this world, even though memory doesn’t go back that far. Oops, I am an older sister! Since he’s my only brother, and only surviving sibling, I’m sure glad he’s so very loving, caring and most of all a Godly man. Happy Birthday, little brother!
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Dear Ruth, I am writing to tell you that I am the little kid who lived next door to you on Curtis Terrace, many years ago. I am the oldest child of John and Winnie Ackley, Coralie. While trying to look up information on Morningside Baptist Church, I stumbled on the story of Ralphs 85th birthday and It has been a very long time, since then. Marcia Goodrich Brophy has lived next door to me for almost 47 years. We both live in Dalton. Please pass my good wishes along to your brother and I wish you well, as well. Both Marcia and I are widows and we get together sometimes. It is nice liveing next to someone from the past.
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