Robert “Bob” Ray Brown, Sr.

Robert “Bob” Ray Brown, Sr., 88, passed away Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015. Bob was born Feb. 17, 1927 in Luling to Gus T. Brown and Onie Ella Webb Brown. He graduated from Luling High School and had served as the Drum Major in the school marching band. He graduated from the University of Texas in 1948 and was a member of the Theta Xi fraternity. Bob married Joy Colleen Ross on Sept. 11, 1948. He was a member of the Episcopal Church of the Messiah.

Bob had worked as an accountant for Gulf Oil Company and the State of Texas. Bob operated an independent accounting practice and worked as a real estate broker and developer. He owned and operated the Inn on the Guadalupe and Brown Awards USA and he was a pecan grower where in 1979 he was recognized as the State Champion in Texas Native Pecans.

He had lived in Houston, Victoria, Alice, San Antonio, Gonzales and Luling with friends in each and points in between. Bob enjoyed snow skiing, traveling, collecting antiques, landscaping, singing, dancing, theatre and art. He had been active in charitable, religious, fraternal and political organizations through the years.

Bob is survived by his daughters and son-in-law, Melinda Brown Whitehead and Jack Pedlar of Trophy Club and Millicent Anice Brown of Gonzales; son and daughter-in-law, Robert “Rob” Ray Brown, Jr. and Lisa Holland Brown of Gonzales; grandchildren, Emily Whitehead Alexander and husband Everett of Rowlett, Meredith Wendell Torres and husband Miguel of Cypress, Scott Wendell of Austin, Robert Douglas Brown of Denver, Colo., Kristen Leigh Brown Johnson and husband Barry of Arlington, Hunter Brown of Gonzales, Kevin Viken and wife Rachel of Arlington and Brandon Viken of Gonzales; great-grandchildren, Sarah Alexander, Rachel Alexander and Caitlyn Alexander all of Rowlett, Sasha Rose Torres of Cypress, Silas Johnson of Arlington, Trey Viken of Arlington, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife; parents; grandson, Justin Whitehead; sister, Francis Brown Balke; brothers, Jack, Joe, John and Gus T. “Pinky” Brown, Jr. 

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 28 in the Episcopal Church of the Messiah with Fr. Randy Melton officiating. Interment services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in Luling City Cemetery. Pallbearers are Tim Allen, Everett Alexander, Scott Wendell, Robert Brown, Kevin Viken, Brandon Viken, Barry Johnson and Miguel Torres. Honorary pallbearer is Hunter Brown. 

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 27 in Seydler-Hill Funeral Home. Memorials may be made in honor of Bob’s grandson, Justin Whitehead, who at the age of 32 had succumbed to ALS or what is commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease though “Team Justin” at www.teamjustin.com, or the ALS Foundation. 

Memorials may also be made to American Cancer Society or the Crystal Theatre in Gonzales which Bob had been instrumental in resurrecting.  Services are under the care and direction of Seydler-Hill Funeral Home.