Wesley W. Brown

He was born Aug. 9, 1927 in New Lenox the son of Raymond W. and Gladys B. Brown. He was preceded in death by his parents.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Charlotte Breeden Brown,; brothers, Douglas (Clare) and Wayne (Dana) Brown; daughter, Courtney (Robert H. III) McRoberts and Son, Wesley (Robin) Brown Jr.; grandchildren, Whitney (Nicholas) Silva, Robert McRoberts IV, Jennifer Brown and Christopher Brown; great grandchildren, Natalie Novack, Patrick Silva and Henry Silva.

Mr. Brown was a U.S. Army Veteran who served 19 months during his college years.Mr. Brown graduated from the University of Richmond in 1951. He attended Richmond on a Basketball scholarship. While there his accomplishments included being elected President of the sophomore class, President of the senior class of the School of Business, President of Theta Chi fraternity, President of the interfraternity council, member of Omicron Delta Kappa (national honorary leadership fraternity), Who’s Who of American Colleges and Man of the year (senior year).

Mr. Brown was an accomplished athlete. He was captain of the Richmond Spiders basketball team. His senior year he earned recognition from the Associated Press by being named to the All-State Mythical Five and the All Big Six Team in the Southern Conference. During his senior year, Mr. Brown was contacted by the Syracuse Nationals and the Minneapolis Lakers of the National Basketball Association. Later in life he excelled in tennis, snow skiing, volleyball, golf and of course basketball.

Following his father’s footsteps, in 1953 Mr. Brown joined Country Companies Insurance in Cook County. He was promoted to the Agency Manager in Lake County and in 1960 became Agency Manager in Sangamon County serving in that capacity until retirement in 1992. During his years with Country Companies, Mr. Brown earned multiple All-Star and All- American honors. His numerous community service involvements included the United Way, Junior Achievement, President of the Y.M.C.A. Board and Habitat for Humanity. He was an active member of Westminster Presbyterian Church. Mr. Brown enjoyed spending time with family and friends, especially fishing trips to Canada and time at his home in Florida, watching all sports, keeping his mind sharp with crossword puzzles, Sudoku and reading courtroom drama novels.

We will celebrate Wes’s life with a memorial service at 11:00 AM Saturday Dec. 21, 2013 at Westminster Presbyterian Church with Rev. Julie Wells-Blythe officiating. A reception will follow the service in the church parish hall.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Memorial Home Healthcare-Hospice, 720 N. Bond Springfield, IL 62702, to Southwind Park 4965 S. 2nd St, Springfield, IL. 62703, or Westminster Presbyterian Church 533 S Walnut St., Springfield, IL 62704.

Boardman-Smith Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.