By Karen Andrew
The Cincinnati Enquirer

COLERAIN TWP. - Waffers Brown, a retired military veteran and pastor for more than 20 years in the Cincinnati area, died Wednesday at the VA Medical Center in Cincinnati. The Colerain Township resident was 77.

He was born in 1925 to Davis and Sarah Brown of Waverly Hall, Ga.

In 1956, he married Annie Marie Lamb of Corpus Christi, Texas, while stationed in Albuquerque, N.M., with the Air Force.

He joined the Air Force in 1945 and served in a number of positions, including aircraft mechanic and in refrigeration. With a career that spanned more than 25 years, he served in three wars: World War II, Korea and Vietnam.

He was discharged in 1970.

In 1958, he was ordained an elder of the First Church of the Church of God in Christ in Albuquerque. From 1960-'63, he was president of the Young People Willing Workers of the Church of God in Christ in Delaware and assistant pastor of Bibleway Church of God in Christ in Dover, Del.

From 1974 to 1980, he was assistant pastor of Rescue Temple, Church of God in Christ in Avondale. In 1980, he was appointed pastor of Temple of Hope Church of God in Christ in Madisonville and served until 2002.

Elder Brown was a member of the Minority Steering Committee in Cincinnati. He was a mentor to youth and worked with the Civil Air Patrol in Blue Ash, serving as squadron commander in 1982-'84.

"He loved that job with those kids and they loved Captain Brown," said his wife, Ann. "He was very dedicated to whatever task he was given and he enjoyed people. And no matter what subject you brought up, he could talk about it."

Besides his wife, survivors include three daughters, Virginia Gale Brown, who is stationed with the Air Force in Los Angeles, Joyce Blake of Colerain Township and Mamie Armstead of Hamilton; two sons, Waffers Grant Brown of Middletown and Timothy Andre Brown of Colerain Twp.; a brother, Buster of Mount Healthy; a sister, Daisy of College Hill; nine grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be at 9 a.m. today at the Rescue Temple Church of God in Christ, 824 Mann Place, Avondale, with funeral services following at 10 a.m. Interment will be in Crown Hill Memorial Park, Colerain Township.

Memorials: The Alzheimer's Association, 644 Linn St., Cincinnati 45203; or the Leukemia-Lymphoma Society, 105 West Fourth Street, Cincinnati 45202.

E-mail kandrew@enquirer.com