Jesse Elwood Brown, 94, of Charleston, WV and formerly of Spring Dale and Meadow Bridge, WV, died on June 13, 2024, after a long illness.

Jesse, who went by his middle name Elwood, was a graduate of Meadow Bridge High School, class of 1948. After high school, he served 4 years in the US Army Signal Corps, achieving the rank of Corporal, and then served 5 years with the Air National Guard, later becoming a member of the American Legion, Post 27, in Dunbar.

Elwood retired from the C&P Telephone Company on September 30, 1984, with 32 years of service. Upon his retirement, he served others through his involvement with the Telephone Pioneers. There, he served 5 times as local president and 2 times as a State Life Member representative. In 1988, Elwood formed the “Sawdust Gang” – a group of 25 retirees who spent the next 18 years making homes handicap accessible; through building ramps, decks, and retrofitting homes. In 2012, Elwood received the Telephone Pioneers National Hall of Fame Award and the Marion Gillette Community Service Award for Pioneer of the Year!

Elwood also received the C&P Telephone Company of West Virginia’s Official Citation Award, for saving a fellow deer hunter’s life at Valley Head, WV, on November 21, 1972. He was also a member of the Communication Workers of America Union (CWA), was President of the Golden Age group for many years, and from 1961 through 2003, served as a volunteer with the Midwestern Little League. There, Elwood coached, managed, and served as president for a total of 14 years, including a stretch of 9 years in a row! When asked why he served so many years with the Little League, Elwood responded “If I can help a child stay out of trouble playing sports, then this makes my day”!

Elwood not only loved Little League, but he loved his WVU Mountaineers, being a part of the Mountaineer Fan Club for 20 years. He loved supporting Charleston High School sports as well, even serving as the president of the Charleston High School Booster Club in the 1970’s.

Since 1979, Elwood has been a member of the Kanawha City Church of Christ, serving as a Deacon for many years.

In his “spare time,” Elwood enjoyed going to the Kanawha Valley Jamboree, which was hosted at the Marmet and Elkview Rec Centers. It was at the Jamboree, at the old Marmet Junior High Gym, where he met his wife, Ruth, in April of 2008.

Elwood felt that everyone was put on this earth for a purpose. He stated, “I feel helping children – through Little League, helping the disabled – through the “Sawdust Gang,” and raising and loving my family, has allowed me to fulfill God’s purpose for me. Above all, I love God through His Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.”

Elwood was preceded in death by his mother, Lamona, and father, Grady; two wives, Rayma, the mother of his two sons, and Maggie. He is survived by his wife, Ruth Ann; two sons, Mike (Kim) of Richmond, VA and Mark (Polly) of Charleston; two grandchildren, Kelly and Cameron of Raliegh, NC; step-son, Jerry; step grandchildren, Peyton, Andy, Amanda, and Audrey.

A Service to Honor the Life of Elwood will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, June 17, 2024, at the Kanawha City Church of Christ, with Minister Charlie McKinney officiating. Burial will be in Elk Hills Memorial Park. Family and friends may visit one hour prior to the service at the church.

Memories of Elwood may be shared by visiting http://snodgrassfuneral.com and selecting the obituary. Snodgrass Funeral Home, South Charleston, is handling the arrangements.