Robert "Bill" J. Brown Sr.

Robert Brown lived an amazing and full life for 96 years. He was born to Bartholomew James Brown and Irma Romain in 1926 in Morgantown WV. His mother baptized him as William, and therefore, many know him as “Bill”.

Bill’s years in Morgantown proved short, as both of his parents died by the time he was of school-age. He was raised by his mother’s parents on a farm in Vineland, NJ for several years. During the Great Depression, this family fell on hard times and he and his siblings and grandparents moved again. This time an aunt and uncle welcomed them into their home in Hammonton NJ. Bill was a hard worker, even at a young age, and he did what he could to earn money to contribute to the family.

At seventeen years of age, with WWII raging, Bill inflated his age in order to join the army, enlisting in the Army Air Corp. He was honorably discharged in order to care for his beloved brother who was traumatized on the battlefield after leaving the service.

Bill came to Baltimore looking for a job and began his 43-year highly successful career with the Baltimore Gas and Electric Company. Starting as a meter reader walking the city streets, he retired as Assistant District Engineer in Distribution and Planning. He helped keep Baltimore County residents with electrical power while planning future needs for the area.

Bill fell head over heels for a beautiful woman of Italian heritage, Evelyn Josephine Marinacci, from Philadelphia whom he unbelievably met on a blind date. Before long, in February of 1951, they exchanged vows and began their family in Baltimore City. Their partnership of over 69 years ended in June of 2020 with the passing of Evelyn. It weighed heavily on his heart and mind for the remainder of his life. He yearned to be reunited with Evelyn through his faith in his Savior.

Together, Bill and Evelyn’s commitment to family life was a unified and uncompromising force. Theirs was a dynamic partnership that taught the importance of faith, and the virtues of self-reliance, temperance, selflessness, and the nonimportance of material wealth. Next to God they treasured family above all. Their children, with their spouses, the grandchildren, and their spouses, were all shown the richness of faith, and familial love in all its forms. At any family event large or small, there was always joy, laughter and a shared communal spirit.

With no previous construction experience, but with grit, and wits and unending energy, while no less working full-time and raising his young family of four, with one more on the way, he set to constructing a new house. A couple of years later in 1965, he moved his family into the spacious house on the hill in Cockeysville MD.

After their five children were grown, that same dedication to family was shared with two more generations. As proud grandparents of 11 treasured grandchildren, they attended countless hockey, soccer, basketball, volleyball, and softball games. As well as Irish dance recitals, ballet recitals, high school and college graduations. Mom and Dad always caught everyone’s attention at weddings, graduations, and other events as they strutted their stuff to everyone’s delight and proudly showed all how couples really dance.

Throughout his life, but enabled by retirement he spent more time serving his faith and his church. His service at St. Joseph’s, Texas MD began in the 1960’s and included, the Rosary and Eucharistic ministries as well as serving as an alter server into his eighties, and time as a member of the church council.

Bill is survived by his five children and their spouses, Robert J Brown (Kitti), Stephen Brown, Susan D’Ambrosio (Marcellino), Martha Lindenkohl (Scott), and David Brown (Amy); his 11 grandchildren, Marcellino D’Ambrosio (Augusta). Anthony D’Ambrosio, Marisa Beyer (Erich), Cristina Boshart (Alex), Jessie Hoshino (Zak) Elizabeth Brown, Christian Lindenkohl, Colin Brown, Nicholas D’Ambrosio, Casey Brown, and Matthew Lindenkohl. He is also survived by six great grandchildren, Blaise, Augustine, Francesca, Marcellino (Celli), Gianna, and Dominic.

The family will receive friends at the Lemmon Funeral Home of Dulaney Valley, Inc., 10 W. Padonia Road (at York Road), Timonium, MD 21093 on Thursday, February 23, 2023 from 3 to 6 pm.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated St. Joseph Church, 100 Church Lane, Cockeysville, MD 21030 on Friday, February 24, 2023 at 10am. Interment Druid Ridge Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be directed in Mr. Brown’s memory to Paralyzed Veterans of America, National Processing Center, P.O. Box 758542, Topeka, KS 66675-8542.