Colton Wayne Brown, 62, of Cumberland, Md., finished life’s journey and his battle with cancer, Sunday morning, April 7, 2024, at his home.Colton Wayne Brown, 62, of Cumberland, Md., finished life’s journey and his battle with cancer, Sunday morning, April 7, 2024, at his home.
He was born Jan. 29, 1962, in Cumberland, the son of Loretta Nazelrod Brown and William A. Brown, both of Cumberland, Md. They survive.
Also surviving are two sisters, Angela (Brown) Radcliffe and her husband Mathew of Frostburg and Allison Brown of Cumberland; first cousins, Vicki Remy, Joy Patch, Geni Jacobs and Merri Tingley; six aunts; and four uncles.
He spent his early years in the Cumberland area, attending area elementary schools. During his teen years he lived with his aunt and uncle, Lorena and Wilmer Saurbaugh, on their farm in Table Grove. He was valedictorian of the 1979 graduating class of VIT High School and received a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois, Champaign/Urbana in 1983. He returned to Maryland in the summer of 1983 to attend law school at the University of Maryland/Baltimore, where he was published in the law review journal, “Maryland Journal of International Law and Trade.” He graduated from law school in May 1986, and passed the bar examination in July 1986. Although he was licensed for many years to practice law in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia, he never practiced law, but worked in the legal publishing field, helping to develop software and subscription services for the legal community. Living in Baltimore and Georgetown, he worked for the Bureau of National Affairs and The Congressional Quarterly, both as an employee and as a consultant. In 2018, he returned to Cumberland.
He volunteered for several years at Rock Creek National Park, helping to eradicate invasive plants that had been introduced there and replace them with plants of native wildflowers and grasses.
At Colton’s direction, his body was cremated and was interred at Mt. Tabor Cemetery, Spring Gap, Md., with five generations of his mother’s family. Rev. Quentin Simpson officated at the graveside committal service Tuesday. Adams Family Funeral Home in Cumberland, Md., was in charge of arrangements.
Memorials may be made to UPMC/Western Maryland Hospice, PO Box 539, Cumberland, MD 21502-0539, or the Allegany County Library System, 815 National Highway, LaVale, MD 21502.
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