Obituary
Walter Lee Brown, Sr.
March 9, 1921 - August 31, 2011
Walter Lee Brown, Sr., 90, of Mt. Ulla Hwy, Mooresville, passed away on Wednesday, August 31, 2011, at the NC State Veterans Home in Salisbury. Born March 9, 1921, in Troutman, NC, he was a son of the late Margarette (Maggie) Waugh Brown and Oscar Lee Brown.
Walter Brown married Juliet Craven Brown on May 25, 1942. He was devoted father to his four children, currently living in Mooresville, Eugene Clyde Brown (Linda), Beverly Brown Sproul (Donnie-deceased), Ronald Eric Brown (Lana) and Walter Lee Brown, Jr. (Audrey). He was proud grandfather of six, Kathy Cornett (Clint), Jody Nelson (Chad), Ronald Brown, Todd Holshouser (Alicia), Meredith Brown all of Mooresville and Chris Brown of Statesville, NC, and dearly loved by his four great grandchildren, Amber Clarke, Grace & Gabe Holshouser of Mooresville and Brandon Brown of Statesville, NC.
He is survived by one sibling, Carl Brown of Mooresville and numerous nieces & nephews. Walter was preceded in death by sisters, Bessie Brown Harwell & husband Jack of Mooresville, Helen Brown Howard and husband Kenneth of Durham, NC and more recently by brother, Vance Brown of Mooresville, NC.
Walter Brown worked with Barger Construction for 52 years as job Construction Superintendent, was a part owner and held the position of Secretary until the time of his retirement. A few of his proudest accomplishments included job Construction Superintendent of the addition to the Kenan Stadium at UNC-Chapel Hill, the Mooresville War Memorial building, the addition to Lowrance Hospital in Mooresville, the addition to Presbyterian Hospital Main in Charlotte, NC, additions to Davidson College, IBM facilities in Charlotte, NC, multiple manufacturing plants for JP Stevens, Burlington Industries and numerous major shopping centers located through out, Tennessee, Virginia, North & South Carolina and Georgia. Using his knowledge & experience, extensive construction experience, he assisted many of his children & grandchildren in the building construction of their own homes.
Mr. Brown was particularly proud of his church, Central United Methodist in Mooresville where he donated his time in supervising the construction of the expansive church educational building. A plaque of appreciation hangs in the church educational building in recognition of Mr. Brown’s labor of love. He was recipient of the Methodist Man of the Year Award in 1982 - 1983, 1990 – 1991.
Walter Brown received an Honorable Discharge after having served in the Pacific during WW II as a Navy Seabee from Dec 3, 1942 until Nov 1945. His military service also included time in Okinawa and Guam. For 67 years, Mr. Brown was an active member of the American Legion Post 66 and the Veterans of Foreign War organizations.
A serious home gardener, Mr. Brown took great joy in planting several gardens and sharing his bountiful vegetables with family, friends, neighbors and fellow church members as well as donating vegetables to the Council on Aging for Senior Citizens mid day meals. An avid outdoorsman, you could always find Walter hunting & fishing every opportunity in which he could find in a little personal time. Most of all, Walter will be remembered by his wife, children & grandchildren as the greatest Dad anyone could ever want and the finest example of giving, sharing, supporting and expressions of kindness to all his fellow men.
A celebration of Walter Brown’s life will be held on Sunday, September 4, 2011 at 2:00 PM in the Sanctuary of Central United Methodist Church located at 214 North Academy Street in Mooresville, NC, across from the Mooresville Mitchell Community College. The Family will receive friends and loved ones in the Central United Methodist Educational Center downstairs immediately following the service. Internment will follow at 4:00 PM at Glenwood Memorial Park in Mooresville.
In lieu of flowers, the family request memorials to either the Central United Methodist Church-Educational Fund, 214 North Academy Street, Mooresville, NC 28115 or the Alzheimer’s Association, Carolina Piedmont Chapter, 3420 Shamrock Drive, Charlotte, NC 28215. Cavin-Cook Funeral Home, Mooresville, is serving the family of Walter Brown. Condolences may be made to the Brown family at www.cavin-cook.com.