Raymond Otis

Brown

Ray Brown, 80, of Toledo, Ohio, passed away peacefully on April 4, 2025.

Born on June 17, 1944, in Toledo to Marjorie Brown and Francis Grimes, Ray spent his life rooted in the community he loved. A proud graduate of Scott High School and a lifelong learner, he earned his Associate's Degree from The University of Toledo.

Ray served honorably in the United States Marine Corps from 1962 to 1968, including time as part of the U.S. Honor Guard at the American Embassy in Paris, France. He retired with the rank of Sergeant and was proud of his service.

Professionally, Ray retired as a Systems Engineer with IBM. He continued working for several years with Black & White Transportation, where his dedication and kindness left a lasting impression on coworkers and customers alike.

Ray was a man of many interests and talents. He was an avid sports enthusiast, with a particular love for golf, baseball, and bowling. He had a green thumb and found joy in landscaping, often taking great pride in a well-tended yard. Ray, a passionate reader, gave his time to others through his work with Read for Literacy. He was a longtime blood donor and believed sincerely in giving back, however he could.

He is survived by his devoted wife, Diane Jackson Brown; children Natalie (Scott) Bostelman, Jason Brown, and Craig (Karen) Brown; and his cherished grandson, Evander. He is also survived by his siblings Cloris Brown, Robert (Marcella) Brown, Patricia Glassner, Gwen Hueston, and Marie Oatman; as well as many beloved nieces, nephews, and extended family. He was preceded in death by his mother Marjorie Brown, and sister, Anna Joyner.

Ray will be remembered for his quiet strength, profound generosity, and the love he showed to family and friends.

A visitation will be held on Sunday, April 13, 2025, at 2:00 PM, followed by a funeral service at 3:00 PM at The House of Day Funeral Home, Toledo, Ohio.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to any of the following charities in Ray's honor: The American Red Cross, Read for Literacy, and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) via Natalie's donation page - https://pages.lls.org/voy/tol/tol25/nbostelman