Thomas Orvin Brown, 90, of Wellington, died Friday, October 7, 2022, at Keystone Pointe in Lagrange. Tom was born on August 26, 1932, in Memphis, TN to Nelis Davis and Willie Frances (nee Buckley) Brown. He graduated from high school in Jackson, Mississippi and earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from Mississippi State. He later earned his PhD from Kent State in 1969.  During the Korean War, Tom served his country in the Navy.

He taught high school history in Lakewood, Colorado where he was also the co-owner of a Tastee-Freez. He moved to Akron, Ohio in 1964 and worked for the next 30 years at the University of Akron. He was the Director of the Counselling and Testing Center until his retirement in 1994. Thomas loved antiques and turned his treasured hobby into a business. He began at Windham Church Antiques, eventually took a booth at the Medina Antique Mall and then in 2002 opened Black River Antiques in Wellington. Alongside his wife, Betty, Tom ran Black River Antiques until retirement in 2014.

Survivors include his wife, Betty Ann (nee Moore) Brown; children, Amie Brown of Fairlawn, Mason Brown of Portland, OR and Andrew Brown, of Middleburg Heights; son-in-law, Greg Hartig of Phoenix, AZ and grandson, Sonny Bolender of Fairlawn. Tom was preceded in death by his daughter, Beth Hartig and brothers, Edward and Davis Brown.

Visitation will be held on Friday, October 14 from 4-7 p.m. at Norton-Eastman Funeral Home, 370 S. Main St., Wellington, where Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, October 15 at 11:00 a.m. A luncheon will follow at Wellington Fire Department, 202 Kelly Street.