Obituary of Lawrence Brown

Lawrence Melvin Brown Lawrence Melvin Brown, 92, of Lynchburg died on April 17, 2012 at Lynchburg Health and Rehabilitation Center. Born in Campbell County, Mr. Brown attended Brookville School and played basketball on the high school team. He won academic prizes and a scholarship to Lynchburg College. He was the son of the late Lawrence Benton and Grace Mayberry Brown. He was preceded in death by a sister, Grace Ann Brown and a brother, Jack Lee Brown both of Lynchburg and a sister, Elizabeth Brown Zorn of Lawrenceville, GA and a grandson, Gregory Howard Willis. He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Evelyn Chaffin Brown; his three children, Fay Brown Willis of Lynchburg, Lawrence Melvin Brown Jr. and his wife, Jennifer Daffron Brown of Virginia Beach, VA, and David Alan Brown of Norfolk, VA; three grandchildren, Gary Phillips Willis and his wife, Catherine Vogl Willis and Sandra Willis Godesky and her husband, Andrew Stanley Godesky of Winston-Salem, NC, and Lauren Hilary Brown of New Haven, CT; and great-grandchildren - Cynthia Judith Willis and Gregory Phillips Willis , and Abigail Grace Godesky. He is also survived by Euna Martin Brown, of Salisbury, NC and Roger A. Zorn of Lawrenceville, GA. At the outbreak of WWII ? the couple moved to Baltimore where he worked for Glenn L. Martin Company building B-26 bombers. He was drafted into the Navy and served as Petty Officer 2nd Class aboard the USS Heed in the South Pacific. He saw action in Okinawa and the Mariannas. Following the war he returned to Lynchburg and joined the Virginia Transit Company. In 1955 he joined Babcock and Wilcox Naval Nuclear Division developing nuclear components for the Navy. He worked at B & W for 30 years until his retirement in 1985. A member of Quaker Memorial Presbyterian Church since 1932, Mr. Brown was tireless in his devotion to the creation, growth and work of the church. In 2001 he was recognized as Elder Emeritus, an honor he held until his death. A member of the Lynchburg Society of Engineering and Science, Mr. Brown also volunteered for many years at Lynchburg General Hospital, an experience he loved. The family will receive friends from 6:30 to 8:00 PM today, Thursday, April 19, 2012 at Diuguid Funeral Service, 21914 Timberlake Rd. A Funeral Service will be held at 2:30 PM on Friday, April 20, 2012 at Quaker Memorial Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Luke Farwell officiating. Interment in the church cemetery immediately following. A reception will be held in the church fellowship hall after the interment. In lieu of flowers memorial gifts may be made to Quaker Memorial Presbyterian Church, 5810 Fort Ave., Lynchburg, Va. 24502