Obituary of Robert L. Brown

Robert Little Brown, 78, died Tuesday, April 19, 2016 at Palmetto Health Tuomey. Born in Sumter, South Carolina, February 5, 1938, he was the son of the late William Hall Brown and H. Linnette Lindler Brown. He was the grandson of the late Robert T. Brown, Sr. and Mildred Hall Brown and Little Shepherd Lindler and Eva Tallon Lindler. Robert “Bob” Brown is survived by his wife of 55 years, Catherine Mary Valentine Brown of Dalzell, S.C., a daughter, Sharolynn Brown Kucera (Edward) of Bellevue, Nebraska, a son, Robert L. Brown, Jr. (Donna) of Savannah, Ga., a sister, Billie Brown Chappell (Ron) of Fort Walton Beach, FL, Grandchildren, Kimberly Brown Clark (Peadar), Shannon M. Kucera, Caitlyn A. Kucera, Nathan E. Kucera, Roy David Monroe, Brandon Monroe, Great-Grandson, Riley John Clark, Niece, Sunnie G. Chappell, God Granddaughters, Nadeja and Natalia Hernandez. Robert “Bob” Brown graduated from the old Hillcrest High School, Dalzell, S.C., in 1956 and from the Citadel in 1960 with a BA in English. While an Air Force Officer, Robert earned his MA graduate degree in English at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, N.C. During his military career, he served as a crew member in B-52 Bombers, RC-135 Reconnaissance Spy Planes, and in AC-130 Gunships in Vietnam. His military decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Medal with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters, AF Commendation Medal, AF Outstanding Unit Award with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, Combat Readiness Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with 1 BS, AF Overseas Short Tour Ribbon, AF Long Tour Ribbon, AF Longevity Service Award Ribbon with 6 Oak Leaf Clusters, and Small Arms. Robert was a senior Adjunct Faculty member of the University of S.C. at Sumter, with the title of Senior Lecturer in English. He taught classes in English Composition and Literature, Short Fiction, Poetry and American Literature. Prior to teaching at USC-Sumter, he taught at the U.S. Air Force Academy from 1973-1977, where he held the academic rank of Assistant Professor and was the director of the Technical Writing program and was the English Dept. Executive Officer. He also taught composition and literature classes for the University of Maryland in Thailand, Emery-Riddle University in Nebraska, St. Leo College at Shaw A.FB., Troy State University at Sumter, and Camden Military Academy at Camden. In 1993, he was asked to teach the USC English 101 and 102 full credit classes at Thomas Sumter Academy in Dalzell, S.C. Robert loved teaching at TSA and had many fond memories of his wonderful students there. He kept in touch with many of them and their accomplishments over the years after he retired from teaching. Robert’s publications include articles for the Air Force Magazine, the South Carolina Historical Society Carologue magazine, the Smithsonian Air & Space magazine and the Friends Journal-The Magazine of the A.F. Museum Foundation. He was the author of The Last Days, a historical brochure on the Civil War in Sumter County, published and distributed by the Sumter County Historical Commission, and was editor and contributor for the Ear and the Earring, a collection of poems for the Sumter Poetry Society. He was also the creator, editor, and publisher of two newsletters, The Gaslight, for the A.F. Team-2 crew he served on at Eielson A.F.B. in Alaska, and The Hound’s Howl, for a local Sherlock Holmes Club. The largest work to date is the book, A Boot Full of Memories, on the letters and history of Captain Leonard Williams, 2nd Calvary, which he both edited and coauthored. He also wrote two family history books on the Brown’s and the Lindler’s, which are historical gifts for his grandparent’s descendants. Mr. Brown served on several local and national organizations devoted to the preservation of Southern history and heritage. He was a member of the Sumter County Historical Commission for 18 years, holding the positions of Chairman of Historical Markers, Chairman of the Civil War Committee, and Vice-Chairman of the Commission. He was a life member of the SCV and a charter member of the General P.G.T. Beauregard Camp of Sumter and was Camp Commander from 1988 to 1990, and also the S.C. Division Commander from 1990 to 1994. His other SCV positions include First Lt. Commander of The Army of Northern Virginia, Aid De Camp to the SCV Commander In Chief, member of the SCV Medal of Honor Committee and was the founder of the SCV Guardian Program for the S.C. Division of the SCV. His awards received for the SCV include the SCV Meritorious and Distinguished Service Medals, The War Service Medal and the United Daughters of the Confederacy Cross of Military Service. Funeral Services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 23 at The Church of the Holy Comforter, 213 N. Main St., Sumter, SC. Private family burial with full military honors will be in the Sumter Cemetery. Honorary Pallbearers will be members of the SC Division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. Memorials may be made to The Church of the Holy Comforter, 213 N. Main Street, Sumter, S.C. 29150. On-line condolences may be sent to www.sumterfunerals.com Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home & Crematory, 221 Broad Street, Sumter, is in charge of the arrangements (803) 775-9386.