Ben A. Brown Jr.

Ben A. Brown, Jr., 78, died peacefully at his home in Cary on May 19, 2015. Ben was a devoted husband, father, brother and a friend to many. The son of Ben and Lennie Brown, he was born on April 14, 1937 in Vinson, Oklahoma, but grew up in Hollis, Oklahoma. There he met the love of his life, Lou Ann Dudley, at age seven. Married in 1956, they spent the early years of their marriage in Norman, Oklahoma while both finished their degrees at the University of Oklahoma. Ben later received his Doctor of Pharmacy from OU.

After serving three years in the United States Air Force, Ben joined Eli Lilly Pharmaceuticals in 1967 and enjoyed a 26-year career with the company.

An avid British car enthusiast, Ben was a founding member of the North Carolina MG Car Club. Retirement allowed Ben and Lou Ann to crisscross the state with a caravan of other club members driving either his beloved 1959 MGA, which he restored to mint condition, or 1980 MGB Special Edition.

He was also a member of St. Francis United Methodist Church in Cary and enjoyed volunteering his time with the Methodist Men’s Group and socializing with the Primetimer’s Group.

Ben spent many Saturdays during the fall watching Oklahoma football among his friends in the Sooner Booster Club. He was truly Sooner born and bred.

Ben was preceded in death by his parents and his sister Marie Miedrich. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Lou Ann; brother Edwin Brown; son Ben E. Brown and his wife Cindy Davis; and daughter Holly Brown and her husband Jim Maynard. He was a proud and devoted grandfather to Lindsey Brown, Emily Brown and Griffin Maynard and rarely missed a dance recital, choral concert or baseball game.

The family will receive visitors on May 25 from 5pm – 7pm at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, Cary. Funeral services will be held May 26 at 11:00 am at St. Francis United Methodist Church, Cary. A private family burial will be held afterward.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to the American Heart Association, the American Diabetes Association or the First United Methodist Church of Hollis (213 W Hollis St, Hollis, Oklahoma 73550).