Robert S. Brown passed away, Saturday, Dec. 19, 2015 in the Brookdale Weddington Park in Matthews, North Carolina — four months following the passing of his dear wife Phyllis (Southouse) Brown.
Bob was 95. He is now home with the Lord to whom he prayed daily and looked forward to meeting.
He was born in Cleveland on Jan. 31, 1920 to Paul and Ida (Stepp) Brown, the youngest of four children. Robert graduated from East Tech High School with the class of 1938. He was employed as a production expediter by Parker Hannifan working with aircraft and shipbuilding companies engaged in the war effort.
In October 1942, he entered the U.S. Army Engineers at Fort Belvior, Virginia. During his service there he was assigned to the Post Headquarters and promoted to the rank of Sergeant. He transferred to the 179th Engineer Combat Battalion at Fort Devens, Massachusetts.
Bob entered Normandy, France on July 31, 1943 and served in Northern France, the Ardennes, Central Europe, and the Rhineland Campaigns. He also fought at the famous Battle of the Bulge with the Third Army and was present at the liberation of the Dachau Concentration Camp.
Among his many military achievements, he was a recipient of the Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, European Eastern Campaign Medal with four bronze stars and the World War II Victory Medal. He was honorably discharged as a Battalion Sergeant Major on Jan. 4, 1946 at Indiantown, Pennsylvania.
Reunited with his family in January of 1946, he entered Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. In the same month he met his future wife, Phyllis, at a church party. They were married on Sept. 21, 1946. He graduated from Case Western in June of 1949 with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree.
He was then employed by Dun & Bradstreet as a financial reporter and analyst assigning credit rating to various businesses in the Cleveland area. After two years he and Phyllis moved to Ashland and he worked as an agent for Northwestern Life Insurance Co. After a number of years, he transferred as a Division Manager to the Prudential Life Insurance Co. and moved to Lexington. From 1968 to 1983 he was the Branch Manager of the Pella Window and Door Co. from which he retired at age 62.
Bob was very active in the First United Methodist Church, serving in both Ashland and Mansfield on many boards and commissions. In Ashland, he was a very active member of the Junior Chamber of Commerce where he received the Outstanding Young Man of Ashland Award. Also in Ashland, he was a Boy Scout Master as well as a Little League baseball coach.
In Mansfield, he volunteered at The Store on South Diamond Street and served on the board for Habitat for Humanity, drove for Meals on Wheels, served with RSVP for many years, and was very active in and a past President of the Men’s Garden Club. Bob was a people person and could (and did!) talk with everyone and anyone.
Bob was physically active and enjoyed swimming laps, working out, and playing racquetball at the YMCA. He played golf and tennis in season with many friends and always said his reason for playing golf was to give his friends a laugh.
He is survived by two sons and a daughter-in-law, Dennis and Peg Brown of Goose Creek, South Carolina and Phillip Brown, of Charlotte, North Carolina; three grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; along with numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family.
In addition to his parents, Bob was preceded in death by two half-brothers, one half-sister, and one sister.
His family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2015 in the Lexington Avenue Snyder Funeral Home. Funeral services honoring his life will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2015 at First United Methodist Church, 12 N. Diamond St., Mansfield. The Reverend Kent Joy will officiate and burial will follow in Lexington Cemetery with military honors performed by American Legion Post #535 of Bellville.
For contributions in his memory, make checks payable to First United Methodist Church and bring or send to the funeral home: P.O. Box 3085, Mansfield, Ohio 44904.
Snyder Funeral Homes is honored to serve Bob’s family and encourage you to share a fond memory or message of condolence to them — and watch his tribute video — at SnyderFuneralHomes.com.
