Roger attended grade school at Indianapolis Public School 26 and graduated from Arsenal Technical High School in 1964. At the age of 16 years old, he was one of the youngest graduates in his class.
He accepted Christ at an early age at New Bethel Baptist Church. As an adult, he was a member of the Church of Living God Jewel Dominion in Indianapolis, Indiana. He loved attending church and all of its members. He was a servant leader.
Roger had a strong work ethic and was self-motivated. After graduating from high school, he started his first adult job at Western Electric as a telephone repairman. On March 11, 1968, he was employed by Daimler Chrysler as iron pourer and was promoted to a millwright. In his position as a millwright, he became involved and interested in governmental affairs.
He was elected as the President of UAW Local 550 (Daimler Chrysler Foundry - Indianapolis) in 1999. In his elected position as president, he served as a board member of the Department of Public Works for eight years under the leadership of former Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson. During his tenure as a DPW board member, he and the mayor developed a personal friendship. Roger never missed a day of work and retired from Daimler Chrysler after 31 years in July 2005.
While at Chrysler, he met his current wife through a mutual friend, Wanda Smith. Roger was united in Holy Matrimony to Lynne Cheryl Franklin on June 17, 2001, and shared 22 years of marital bliss to his lover, as he called her.
Roger was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and person. He was a servant leader. He wanted to ensure that everyone knew God and reached their greatest potential in life. “I was an apostle of Christ to encourage others to follow in my footsteps professionally and spiritually.”
Roger loved sports. He belonged to multiple bowling leagues and won several league championships. He played pool and won numerous tournaments with his CB buddies and work cohorts. He also used to ride motorcycles and belonged to a local biker club.
He was a football fanatic and HUGE Colts fan. Everyone knew not to call or come over during Sunday, Monday and Thursday night football unless you were watching the games with him.
He also enjoyed working in his yard with his oldest son Lil Roger. Roger finally admitted that Lil Roger did a better job on his lawn than him. He loved spending time with his fur babies Kirby and Blake, talking on his CB, and hanging out with his Chrysler crew.
Roger was preceded in death by his parents Edward and Ophelia Brown, brothers: Edward and Edmond (Duke) Brown, sisters Josepine Watters, Irene Davis and Jacquelyn Thurman and his fur son Blake Ashton.
Roger departed this earthly life on Christmas Day. He leaves behind to cherish his memory his wife Lynne Brown, brothers Michal Brown, Ezra Brown (Rosemary), and Philip Brown (Denise), his children Kelly Brown, Roger Brown Jr., Charles Brown, Paul Johnson, Kim Howard, Jackie Brown (Eric), Tiffany Robinson (Reginald), Kirby Micheal (fur son), Malachi, Zion, Aspah Mozee (god sons) along with a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
A visitation for Roger will be held Saturday, January 6, 2024, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Church of the Living God, 7206 E. 38th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46226, followed by a Celebration of Life at 12:00 PM.
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