Robert M. Brown, Jr.

1930-2019

Posted

Robert Morris Brown, Jr was born May 23, 1930 at Warren PA to Robert Morris Brown and Loraine Welty Brown

Robert lived in Pittsburgh and Bradford PA and graduated from Bradford High School in 1949 where he excelled in track and tennis.

He enlisted in the US Air Force in 1949 serving four years. He spent two years stationed on St. Lawrence Island in the Bering Straight as a radar repairman.

He met Marrybelle Stonely while stationed on Cape Cod and they married June 18, 1955.

Robert graduated from Southeastern Massachusetts University in 1959 and the couple settled in Franklin, Massachusetts where they raised a family of four sons and a daughter.

He joined GTE Government Systems and worked as an electronic engineer instructor, presenting engineering programs at military bases throughout the country. He wrote and published a text book on the minuteman missile system and during this time was able to have his family enjoy traveling with him to California eight consecutive summers.

Robert retired from GTE in 1984 and they moved to Port Hueneme, CA where their children had settled after their graduations. He took a position with the naval surface Warfare Center in Port Hueneme, CA where he ran a training center (jokingly called Bob Brown University.)

He retired from there in 1994 and then moved with Marybelle to Marrowstone Island, building a home on the southern boundary of Fort Flagler State Park.

Bob spent many volunteer hours at the park, discovering and refurbishing hidden historic sites and clearing and maintaining trails.

He created the gun emplacement tour and hospital tour and conducted them for 10 years, then training others to take them over. He received many awards for his service, including two excellence in volunteering awards and state parks volunteer of the year. He and Marybelle were nominated Marrowstone Island citizens of the year in 2001.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Marrybelle, of 64 years, sons Robert M. Brown III (Lisa); David Brown (Char); Christopher Brown (Melanie); James Brown (Lori); Susan Miller (Kevin), 11 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.