Floyd H. Brown

On Friday, the third of April, in Pensacola, Florida, a 97 year-old unsung American WWII patriot lost his battle with kidney failure. He left this life in his wife’s arms, peacefully and with dignity. Floyd H. Brown CAPT USN (Ret) lived an American life writ large. Born in Redfield, Kansas at the beginning of the Roaring 20’s, the son of proud, hard-working Kansas farming family, he was 12 when a Stearman biplane landed in his dads freshly cut hay field to give local folks a ride. Floyd went first and planted a seed for flying that would flower throughout his life, first in WW2 in the Navy and continue throughout his retired years as a flight instructor then motorcycle instructor. He enlisted in the Navy in 1940 right out of high school because his dad forbade him from joining the Marines. Finishing flight school in March 1945 he married Mary Bradbury who was working in a WWII defense plant and one year later had a son, followed three years later by a daughter. A break in service in the early 50’s found him in the Kansas Highway patrol which provided nearly as many close-calls and adventures as Naval Aviation in the Pacific. He was gone a lot, but he taught his children tough lessons at home—lessons about honesty, humility, self-reliance and teamwork. Back in the Navy he practiced what he preached, he demanded much and gave much, and he always forgave. Always. He was then given command of a Navy Anti-Submarine Squadron followed by promotion to Captain and command of an Air Group (CAG). Following his command tours, he was assigned as the Chief of Staff of Task Force 77 controlling all Navy carrier combat operations in Vietnam. After 29 years in the Navy he retired to California then to Pensacola. He bought and sold real estate for a short while after retirement but needed more action, so he began giving flight lessons in airplanes and gliders. In the 80’s he started Pensacola Motorcycle Rider Training Center, the first non-college affiliated motorcycle training center in the State of Florida and trained over 10,000 people to ride a motorcycle. He and my mother, Mary toured the United States on their Goldwing motorcycle visiting long-lost relatives and making friends along the way. He loved helping others and shunned the spotlight. I remember when he found a small Kawasaki training motorcycle for sale by a very poor man and woman. Their power and water had been cut off for non-payment. Floyd not only bought the motorcycle but went to the power and water company and paid the arrears bill plus one month ahead. The loss of his beloved Mary in 2002 shoved him off balance for a short time but then he found Tewanna and has been the light of her and her kids and grandkids life ever since. But nature has its rhythms, and they can be unforgiving. There is a time for living and a time for dying. After this marvelous man said a peaceful, loving goodbye, the angels came and brought his soul to heaven. I knew this man well, better than anyone now living, and I loved him greatly, he taught me much. His name was Floyd Herschel Brown and he was my father. Rest in peace Dad, we have the Watch. He was preceded in death by his 1st wife Mary, daughter Carol and sister Pauline. He is survived by his 2nd wife Tewanna, stepdaughter Tashala Rich, stepson Japheth Rich, step-grandson Daniel Gulley-Rich, step granddaughters Tashala and Tiana Gulley-Rich, sister-in-law Dianette Spencer, and brothers-in-law Jerome Spencer and Leander Thurman. He is survived by his son Cliff Brown CW5 USA (Ret) and his wife Dottie, by his grandson Cody Brown LCDR USCG (Ret) and his wife Casey and grand-children Cayla, Ciara and Carter, by his grandson Charley Brown and his wife Tammi and grand-children Roxi and Griffin, by his grand-daughter Leanna Durkin and her son Trace, by his grand-daughter Winnie Williams and by his much beloved nephew who followed his uncles footsteps into Naval Aviation, Charles P. Bourne CAPT USN (Ret), his wife Danya and their daughter Rachel. Memorial service will be 10:00 a.m., Friday, July 31, 2020 at Faith Chapel Funeral Home South with Pastor John Smith officiating. Interment will be at Barrancas National Cemetery, NAS Pensacola, with Full Military Honors. My own poetic obituary – Yeah A memorial service for me – Floyd I know it seems odd and sorta ugly To write my own poetic obituary But here it is anyway by alias “Uncle Dudley” I hope you all will be divinely blessed To love your neighbor as yourself Stay smiling with a steadfast sense of humor And God will keep you off the shelf My life started in October of 1922 On the plains of Kansas was the call Learned of life’s turmoil and strifes Taught in a one room school house – not to fall Left the farm for the city when I was 14 A new life with an assortment of vows The grand and glorious year of 1936 No more duties to milk those lonesome cows High school – some college in year 1940 Working underneath my Model “T” was a chore Joined the Navy to see the world And this was 11 months before the war Sang in the high school and Jr. College choir Over a Kansas City radio was our call Navy Boot Camp in Great Lakes vocals Chicago radio was indeed no trouble at all. A plane crash off an aircraft carrier A dark nite in 52 it happened to be God Almighty and destroyer sailors Made a staunch and firm believer out of me Confessing our sins with a voice to others Believing that Jesus died on that Old Rugged Cross Resurrectioin from death on the 3rd day Confirmed beyond a doubt – He is the boss When this is read – time for me is no more On the way to Heaven to sing and shout Glory be to the Father of us all This I firmly believe – there is no doubt

Tributes

Floyd H. Brown

October 29, 1922 - April 3, 2020