Joseph Eli Brittain
BRITTAIN, GOWIN, JENNINGS
Posted By: Treva Patterson
Date: 4/27/2006 at 10:43:19
The Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Wednesday, March 14, 1962JOSEPH BRITTAIN OF EARLHAM DIES
Life-Long Resident, Member of Well-Known Family In County
Joseph E. Brittain of Earlham died Saturday, March 10, at a Des Moines hospital. He was 77 years of age.
Mr. Brittain was a life-time resident of Madison county and member of a well-known family here. He was born in Jefferson township Jan. 30, 1885, a son of Pleasant and Sarah Brittain. His early life was spent in Jefferson township, but in 1902 he moved with his parents to a farm east of Earlham.
He was married July 4, 1909, to Alcy L. Jennings of Van Meter. They farmed the same place until 1917, when they moved to an adjoining farm. Since 1956 they had lived in Earlham.
He was a long-time member of the Methodist Church in which he served on the official board for many years. He was active in other community organizations.
Surviving are his wife; a son, Clyde Brittain of Earlham; three grandchildren; two great- grandchildren; and a sister, Mrs. Ida Gowin of Torrence, Calif.
________________________Earlham Echo
Earlham, Iowa
Thursday, March 15, 1962Joseph E. Brittain Services Held
Funeral services were held for Joseph E. Brittain at the Earlham Methodist church, Tuesday afternoon. Rev. Stephen Cree, pastor of the church, and Rev. C. A. Crouse, a former pastor here, were in charge of the services.
Gertrude Conrad was organist and Donna Keller was soloist.
Honorary casket bearers were: Frank Inman, Roger Orr, Jim Welch, Orie Jones, jr., Gordon Standing and Arthur Brown.
Casket bearers were: Wilbur Herron, Kenneth Thompson, Dale Mills, Alfred Young, Wallace Cooper and Mervyn McLennan.
Those in charge of flowers were Josephine Golightly, Marie Standing, Helen Hunter and Ren Hodson.
Ushers were Fred Hodson, Gene Golightly, Donald Ross and Ivan Russell.
Burial was in the Earlham cemetery.
Mr. Brittain was 77 years old at the time of his death.
He was born in Madison county, and lived on the Brittain farm east of Earlham for over fifty years, moving to Earlham in 1956.
He had served on the board of directors of the Farmers Elevator for many years, and was a township trustee, and was an officer of the Shipping Associating during the years it was in operation.
He received a merit award from the U.S. Treasury for selling war bonds during World War I. He was still carrying this medal with him at the time of his death. He also served on the Methodist church board.
Mr. Brittain was highly regarded as a good citizen in the community and as a man of sound judgment. His obituary follows:
Joesph E. Brittain, the son of Pleasant and Sarah Brittain, was born in Jefferson township, January 30, 1885, and passed away at Des Moines General Hospital, March 10, 1962 at the age of 77 years, 1 month and 10 days.
He spent his early years in Jefferson township and in 1902 he moved with his parents to the farm east of Earlham, which has remained in the Brittain family for a number of years.
He was united in marriage July 4, 1909 to Alcy L. Jennings at Van Meter. They began their married life on the home farm. To this union was born a son Clyde. In 1917 they moved to their new farmstead adjoining the home place where they resided until moving to Earlham in 1956.
Joe was a long-time member of the Methodist church where for many years he served on the official board. As long as his health permitted he enjoyed attending church. He served his community well in other organizations and activities.
He idolized his grandchildren and great grandchildren, who along with others, will remember him for his remarkable sense of humor, kindness and generosity. He was also blessed with an unusual memory, in that he was able to recall incidents of the past. Throughout all his illness he remained cheerful, full of hope and never complaining. His faith in God and mankind was beyond reproach.
He is survived by his wife, Alcy; a son, Clyde, of Earlham; three grandchildren, Marlin and Keith Brittain of Earlham and Janet Williamson of Cedar Falls; and two great grandchildren, Chuck and Marla Brittain; also a sister, Ida Gowin, of Torrence, California and a host of relatives and friends.
_________________________Coordinator's note: Middle name taken from his Iowa Death Certificate.
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Madison Obituaries maintained by Linda Griffith Smith.
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