Rev. Dr. Bradley A. Brown

Dr. Bradley A. Brown spent the first 69 years of his life passionately and faithfully serving
Christ, adoring his Janie, loving his girls, and his grandkids, and championing the local
church. He died peacefully on Tuesday, September 15, 2020, and now continues all of those
things as a member of the Church triumphant.

Bradley was born on October 30, 1951 to George and Hazel Brown in Harrisburg,
Pennsylvania. He played baseball and the tuba, and discovered early in life that he could
have a conversation with anyone he passed on the street. He was a proud graduate of John
Harris High School (1969), Otterbein College (1973), Princeton Theological Seminary
(1976), and Drew University (1986). He met the love of his life, Jane Brown, also from
Harrisburg, PA, in middle school, took her on their first date in high school, and married her
on August 17, 1974.

Bradley was ordained as a Deacon (1974) and an Elder (1977) in the United Methodist
Church and spent the next 45 years serving local churches all over central Pennsylvania
where he took seriously the call of Christ to go and make disciples of all people. He taught
the scriptures with passion and excellence, designed worship experiences that made much
of the glory and grandeur of God (with little regard to the time), and sent people out
equipped to serve. He mentored countless people, from those he was assigned to those who
were simply fortunate enough to cross his path. He believed in people, but even more so in
what God could do in and through them.

Bradley and Jane’s loving marriage lasted for 46 years and brought them two daughters, of
which he was endlessly proud. Their daughter, Laura Brown, is married to her husband
John. They have 3 children and live in York, Pennsylvania. Their second daughter, Jennifer
Williams, is married to her husband Clark. They have two sons and live in Summerville,
South Carolina. Their 5 beloved grandchildren are Liza 16, George 13, Ruth 12, Jacob 11,
and Bryant 8. He is also survived by his older sister, Gloria McElwee, and innumerable
cousins, relatives, friends, and family.

Bradley’s passions extended far and wide to his love of PIAA football officiating, playing golf
with the guys, waving his Terrible Towel for the Steelers, blaring Motown hits in his
convertible, and playing tuba with any brass ensemble he could find. He was a loving and
faithful husband, a present and devoted father, a fun-loving Pap who taught his grandkids to
play ball, keep a beat and eat ice cream, and a servant of Christ who lived everyday to the
glory of God, believing the best was yet to be.

Bradley will be laid to rest on Saturday, September 19, 2020. Visitation will be from 9:30-
11:00 AM at Zion United Methodist Church, 1030 Carlisle Road, York. The service will
follow at 11:00 AM with Rev. Chuck Sprenkle and Rev. James VanZant officiating. Live
stream of services will be available at www.Facebook.com/KuhnerAssociates. Private
burial will be in Susquehanna Memorial Gardens. Kuhner Associates Funeral Directors,
Inc., 863 South George Street, York, is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers,
memorial gifts may be made to the Zion Church building fund (1030 Carlisle Road, York, PA
17404) and the Ashley Ridge Church building fund (PO Box 51846, Summerville, SC
​29485), honoring Bradley’s lifelong passion and pursuit to build and grow the Church of
Jesus Christ.
 

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