William Robert Brown

Bob was born in Chimney Rock, NC on January 20, 1937 to Robert Lee Brown and Queen Anne Davis Brown, and he was preceded in death by his first wife, Margaret Wilkerson Flint Brown, as well as his sisters Martha Aquilla Brown O’Neal and Priscilla Anne Brown and his brother Paul Brown Wendell.

He is survived by his wife Sylvia Jolles Brown, his brother Charles Hunter Brown, and by his sons William Robert Brown Jr., Samuel Lee Brown, and Paul Saylor Brown. He is also survived by Robert’s wife Inki and their daughters Ella and Maia, Lee’s wife Dana, their daughter Shanley and their son Karsten.

Bob graduated from the Patterson School for Boys in June of 1954 before enlisting in the US Army medical corps as a surgical technician. He was stationed at the hospital of the base in Bad Kreuznach, West Germany until 1957 and traveled avidly around Europe when on leave. After an honorable discharge, Bob returned to the US and traveled some more around his home country before enrolling at NC State University. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering in 1961. Upon graduation he started work at the NC Highway Commission and spent his entire professional career working with the NC Department of Transportation, retiring as the State Special Design Engineer on June 1, 2000. The day before his retirement he was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine by Governor James B. Hunt, Jr., which is given “to persons for exemplary service to the State of North Carolina and their communities that is above and beyond the call of duty and which has made a significant impact and strengthened North Carolina.”

While pursuing his successful professional career, Bob also made time to be a devoted family man. In September of 1969 he married Margaret Wilkerson Flint, with whom he had three sons, Robert, Lee, and Paul. He was a very involved father in his sons’ lives, coaching CASL soccer teams for the better part of a decade while simultaneously being very active in Indian Guides meetings and events. When it became apparent Paul had special needs, Bob was tireless in his efforts to help Paul have the very best life he could.

After Margaret passed away in December 2001, he reconnected with Sylvia Jolles, whom he had met and developed a close friendship with during his years in Europe. They were married in May 2005 in Dorset, England, and remained deeply committed to each other until his passing.

Bob loved fishing from boyhood, when he and his brother Hunter would catch trout near their home on Bald Mountain. In later years he developed an avid interest in golfing and spent many happy hours on the links. He was a proud supporter of NC State sports, and throughout his retirement he and Sylvia traveled all over Europe and the Caribbean. He was gentle, strong, and kind, and in life he found much to love.

Most of all he loved being a father, a husband, a grandfather, a good neighbor, and a friend.