Robert L. "Bob" Brown, 94, passed away peacefully, with family at his side, Friday, September 11, 2020, at the Central Wyoming Hospice and Transitions in Casper, Wyo. An honorable man, Bob was known for his ever-present smile and kind, welcoming manner.
Born December 27, 1925, in Thermopolis, Wyo., he was the son of James "Scotty" and Florence (Mewis) Brown. Bob learned responsibility, thrift and the value of hard work at an early age when his Father died, leaving his Mother to raise him and his brother, Jim. To buy his bike and the trombone he played throughout school, Bob sold postcards at the Big Spring, swept the barber shop floor and had a paper route. He graduated from Thermopolis High School in 1943.
Inducted into the U.S. Army in March 1944, he served in both Europe and the Pacific. Following his honorable discharge, Bob briefly attended college in Fort Collins, Colo. In August 1950, his National Guard Unit was activated and deployed to Korea where he was proud to have been a member of the storied 300th Armored Field Artillery Battalion. Along with a Navy Presidential Unit Citation, he received the Combat Infantryman Badge, Good Conduct Medal, Ambassador for Peace Medal from the Korean Government and Purple Heart.
After WWII, Bob returned to Thermopolis and began a 44-year career with the U.S. Postal Service, many of them as Postmaster. It was while there that he noticed a young lady who picked up the mail for First National Bank. On September 18, 1949, he married that wonderful lady, Jeralyn Joy "Jerry" Brown, in Billings, Mont. The two celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in the fall of 2019.
Throughout his life, Bob was a steady supporter of his family, friends, church and hometown. He enjoyed hunting and fishing, was a regular league bowler in younger years, followed the Thermopolis Bobcats and Wyoming Cowboys, and served on the Community Federated Church Board, and was active in Malta Lodge #17 AF&AM and American Legion Post #18. After retirement, he and Jerry began delivering Meals on Wheels, which he enjoyed up until late last fall. At his passing, he was the longest standing member of Community Federated Church being baptized in 1936.
Survivors include their children, Bobbi (John) Barrasso of Casper and Mike (John Bolt) of Dallas, Texas; a special "one and only" granddaughter, Hadley Bryans of Jackson Hole, Wyo .; brother, Jim Brown of Renton, Wash .; brother-in-law, John (Ellen) Dodge of Thermopolis; sister-in-law, Betty Jean Gwynn of Buena Vista, Colo .; along with numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and their families scattered from Scotland to Washington state.
Jerry preceded Bob in death in January of 2020.
A memorial service will be held when the family can all gather once again. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to Community Federated Church, 244 No. 6th, H.S. Co. Sr. Citizens Center, 206 Senior Ave, or a cause supporting Veterans.
Mortimore Funeral Home is assisting the family and messages may be offered at http://www.mortfh.com.
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