Edgar Lee Brown Jr.

Edgar “Ed” Lee Brown, Jr., 95, passed away on Tuesday afternoon, October 6, 2026 in Williamsburg, VA where he had retired years ago. He had recently celebrated his 95th birthday with many family members present. He will be greatly missed by those who love him.

Ed was born September 11, 1931, in Honolulu, Hawaii, while it was still a U.S. Territory. He was the only child of Edgar Lee Brown, Sr. and Dorothy Boggs Brown. He is survived by his wife, Ingrid Siegert Brown; his four children, Linda Carrington, Steve (Karen) Brown, Lisa Serarols, Leigh Ann Brown, and Ingrid’s two daughters Karen Brown and Sandra (Scott) Wimbish. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Andrew Carrington, Christopher (Tarenne) Carrington, Matthew (Rebecca) Carrington, Laura Carrington (Tyler) Sahlin, Sydney (Jeff) Field, Laura Brown (Jason) Seaman, Rachel Brown (Weston) Parker, Margo Serarols, Megan Serarols, Carlos (Izzy) Serarols, Jennifer Serarols, Allie Brown, Megan Brown, Davis Brown, Liza Wimbish, Sarah Wimbish, Turner Wimbish; and nineteen great-grandchildren.

After initially growing up on Pacific islands while his father was in the Navy, the family moved to Norfolk, VA, while he was in elementary school. He graduated from Granby High School, where he lettered in football, baseball, and, most importantly, wrestling. Ed would go on to wrestle at the Virginia Military Institute and become the Southern Conference champion in his weight class in 1952 and 1953. He was later inducted into the VMI Sports Hall of Fame for his success in wrestling. While at VMI, he would rise to the rank of Lieutenant for Delta Company. He graduated in 1953 with a BS in Civil Engineering. He fulfilled his active-duty service requirement in the Air Force and rose to the rank of Major before completing his reserve-duty assignments.

Upon graduation from VMI, Ed married his high school sweetheart, Peggy Miller. They would have four children together. He was hired by the Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company and would be a telephone company man for his entire career. He was first assigned to the traffic division located in Richmond, VA. He would rise through the corporate structure and be transferred six times throughout the eastern parts of Virginia. Yet he would always come back to Richmond. When the Bell System divested in the mid-eighties, he stayed with what became Bell Atlantic. By this time, he and his family had been transferred to Rockville, Maryland. It was during this time his marriage ended.

Ed’s last move with the telephone company would take him overseas, and he would be named President of Bell Atlantic International. Prior to his move, he had married Ingrid Hartman. Together they would move to Brussels, Belgium, where he would work for almost four years. They would move back to Williamsburg, VA where he would retire in 1995 and end a forty-plus-year career with the phone company. They would live in the Kingsmill area of Williamsburg for over 25 years until moving to the Williamsburg Landing when his mobility and health declined.

Ed was a member of St. Stephen Lutheran Church in Williamsburg and served the church for several years. He served on the resident committee for Kingsmill for many years and acted as an advisor to several companies. He enjoyed golf and tennis throughout his life, winning several tournaments at the recreation clubs where he was a member. He was a staunch Washington Commander fan (although he usually called them by the name he had grown up with). He cheered for the New York Yankees in baseball and always kept an eye on the Keydets of VMI. He remained an avid reader all his life, reading books for pleasure, work or to learn something new. And if there was a sports event on television, he would most likely be tuned in.

A graveside service of celebration and remembrance for Ed will be held on Saturday, October 24th at 11:00 AM at Williamsburg Memorial Cemetery, 130 King William Drive, Williamsburg, VA.

Memorials may be made to St. Stephen Lutheran Church, 612 Jamestown Rd, Williamsburg, VA 23185.