James B. Brown

James B. Brown, 69, of Topeka, passed away on Thursday, January 3, 2013 at a Topeka hospital. He was born January 11, 1943 in Topeka, the son of Glenn E. and Alice Leonard Brown. James graduated from Auburn High School and attended Washburn University.

He was an Army veteran, serving from 1961-1967, with assignments in Inchon, Korea, Fort Benning, GA, Fort Leavenworth, KS and the Office of the Secretary of Defense. James was employed by the Santa Fe Railway Chief Engineer's office in Topeka and Chicago. James was a member of the Highland Park Baptist Church, where he served as a Deacon, Treasurer, Trustee and on other committees. He served as Chairman of the Missions Committee that founded Western Hills Baptist Church in Topeka. He was also a charter member of the American Syringomyelia Alliance Project (ASAP), a national organization dedicated to further public awareness, support for victims and funding of research for the condition of Syringomyelia.

James married Dawn Smith on January 26, 1964. They divorced in 1973. He married Jo Ann Herod O'Donnell on November 4, 1976. She survives. Other survivors include one son, James Brown, Jr. of Topeka, one daughter, Crescent D. Brown Gordon of Sumter, SC, two step-sons, Dan O'Donnell of Boulder, CO, Shawn O'Donnell of Lawrence, one step-daughter, Christine Schwermann of Leawood, KS, five grandchildren and two siblings, Roy Brown of Puyallup, WA and Marian Ercse of Topeka. He was preceded in death by his brother, Larry Brown.

Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday at Penwell-Gabel Southeast Chapel. Burial will follow in Pleasant Hill Cemetery southeast of Topeka. James will lie in state and the family will receive friends from 4:00-6:00 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to the Highland Park Baptist Church, 820 E. 29th St., P.O. Box 5224, Topeka, KS 66605 or to the American Syringomyelia Alliance Project, P.O. Box 1586, Longview, TX 75606-1586.