Brady C. “Brad” Brown
Brady C. “Brad” Brown, age 70, of Shelby, passed away unexpectedly on Monday morning, December 1, 2025, at OhioHealth Shelby Hospital’s Emergency Department.
Born on New Year’s Day, January 1, 1955, in Ironton, OH, Brad was the son of the late Jack and Lena (Vanderhoof) Brown. He was a 1973 graduate of Russell High School in Flatwood, KY.
Brad spent more than 20 years of his career in municipal water treatment. He and his family lived for several years at Put-In-Bay, where he worked in both water and wastewater treatment before later moving to Shelby and serving the City of Shelby’s water treatment facility, retiring in 2017. Earlier in life, Brad was also a skilled journeyman electrician.
Brad loved being outdoors and found great joy in boating, fishing, and tending to his garden and also loved to travel. A devoted sports fan of any and all athletics, Brad was known to “live out” his amateur sportscasting dreams—narrating games, calling plays, and offering colorful commentary to anyone willing to listen.
In a tribute, Brad’s daughter Sabrina shared: “He was one of the strongest people I’ve ever known and loved his family and friends fiercely. He was stoic, stubborn, and took great joy in being a pain. He was also a secret softy, extremely loyal, and unfailingly kind. He gave me my love of sports, folk music, and my temper, and was always my biggest fan. But most of all, my Dad adored Midge and Eloise—even though he’d still tell you he ‘hated’ dogs. They were the absolute lights of his life, and I’m so grateful for the time we had with him.”
Brad is survived by his wife of 32 years: Sharon G. (Slopak) Brown; daughter and son-in-law: Sabrina and Samuel Herron of Cleveland; his beloved granddaughter: Eloise Leigh Herron; brother: Kevin (Janet) Brown; and numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends. In addition to his parents, Brad was preceded in death by his sister and brother-in-law: Cheryl and Tim Pleasant.
Care for Brad and his family is being provided by the Penwell Funeral Home, 168 West Main Street, Shelby. Calling hours and funeral services will not be observed.
Condolences may be left on the funeral home’s website (PenwellFuneralHome.com) or their Facebook page (Facebook.com/PenwellFuneralHome).