Harold K. Brown

Mr. Harold Kenneth Brown, 86, of Springville, Alabama peacefully went to be with the Lord on Friday, July 26, 2019, under hospice care at his daughter’s home in Homewood. Mr. Brown fought his lung cancer diagnosis with the same strength and courage that sustained him his entire life.

Mr. Brown was born in Miami on September 21, 1932 and later moved to Buffalo, New York. After high school, Mr. Brown honorably served his beloved country for twenty-two years in the United States Coast Guard, retiring in 1973 as Master Chief. Following his military career, he worked for NASA at the John C. Stennis Space Center rocket engine test facility and with the United States Census Bureau developing the FOSDIC system used to process the census data more speedily. During his free time, Mr. Brown earned his private pilot’s license and was a certified ground school instructor helping others learn how to fly, including his son Andrew. He attended Springville First United Methodist Church and volunteered with New Beacon Hospice.

He loved God, his family, his country, flying single engine airplanes, golfing, watching sports on TV with his sons, especially Auburn football, fishing, going to air shows, telling jokes and making other’s laugh, listening to John Prine songs, the music of Les Miserables and The Phantom of the Opera, traveling all of the United States to visit family and friends, a perfectly manicured lawn, and eating Wendy’s vanilla Frostys. He finished well.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Kendal Harold Brown and Louisa Olive Church, his brothers William Young, Robert Young, George Brown and Richard “Dick” Brown, and his son Harold Kenneth Brown, Jr.

Survivors include his beloved wife of 17 years Dee Brown of Springville, Alabama; his daughter Carolyn Brown of Biloxi, Mississippi; his son Danny Brown of Homewood, Alabama; his daughter Patty Smith of Biloxi, Mississippi; his son Andrew Brown of Charleston, South Carolina; his daughter Michelle Wales and his favorite son-in law Kevin of Homewood, Alabama; his grandchildren, Courtney Smith, Brandon Smith and Patrick Smith and his wife Angela all of Biloxi, Mississippi, Victoria Brown of Charleston, South Carolina, and Sarah Wales and Harris Wales of Homewood, Alabama; his great-grandchildren Olivia Wheeler and Charlotte Smith of Biloxi, Mississippi. He was also survived by many step-children, step-grand children, and step great-grand children whom he loved dearly and who loved him dearly as well.

Mr. Brown’s memorial service and burial will be on Wednesday, July 31, 2019 beginning promptly at 2:45 pm at the Alabama National Cemetery at 3133 Highway 119, Montevallo, Alabama. The family will welcome everyone immediately following the burial at the home of Michelle and Kevin Wales, 1133 Columbiana Road, Homewood, Alabama.

Because of the rules and regulations of the Alabama National Cemetery regarding the limited number of flower arrangements, the family suggests donations to the Shriners Hospital for Children, https://www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org/shc, in lieu of flowers.

The family extends their heart-felt gratitude to the nurses and staff of Amedisys Hospice Care who not only cared for Mr. Brown, but loved him deeply and became part of the family. Tracy, Cler, Emma, and Glenda and others will forever be in our hearts.