Robert H. Brown

Former New York and Florida resident, Robert H. Brown, 102, passed away on December 11, 2024, at his home in Chester, VA. A Celebration of Life honoring him will be held at a later date.

Mr. Brown was born May 9, 1922, in Utica, NY, to Harry and Lena Brown, who predeceased him. He graduated from Utica Free Academy in 1940, majoring in electrical studies. He was quickly hired by the General Electric Company to produce military radio components. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF) in 1942 and was assigned duties in the Army Airways Communications System Command. He held a variety of assignments in the United States. While at USAAF Headquarters in Reading, PA, he met and later married Bessie Hargrave, a sergeant in the Woman's Air Corps. He left the service in 1946, and he and Bessie returned to Utica, where he joined his father in establishing the H.F. Brown Machine Co., doing general-jobbing and custom machining work.

In 1985, after the machine shop was sold, he and Bessie relocated to Crystal River, FL. He and Bessie were married for 58 years when she passed away in 2003. Mr. Brown left Florida in 2016 to join his son and daughter-in-law in Chester, VA.

Mr. Brown was active in a wide variety of religious, fraternal, and civic organizations.

He was a member of the Order of DeMolay for 85 years.

He was an active member of the Masonic Order for 77 years, being raised at Amicable Lodge #664 (New Hartford, NY) in 1947, where he later served as chaplain. He was also a member of Ziyara Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. Mr. Brown was coroneted a 33rd degree Mason in 1983 for the Valley of Utica Scottish Rite, Yahnundahsis Bodies, in which he served as Thrice Potent Master; and was later elected as Commander-in-Chief of the Mohawk Valley Consistory. He was directly involved in governing the Masonic Home and establishing the Masonic Medical Research Institute in Utica, NY, and also promoted Shriner's Crippled Children's Hospital activities. In Florida, he was active in Brotherhood Lodge #375 (Brooksville, FL). After moving to Chester, VA in 2016, he joined Chester Lodge #94.

Mr. Brown was also an active member of the American Legion serving as Chaplain for Post 166, in Homosassa, FL, and later was a member of Hopewell Memorial Post 146, in Hopewell, VA.

A life-long Presbyterian, he served as a deacon and elder at Westminster Presbyterian Church (Utica, NY), later as an elder at 1st Presbyterian Church (Crystal River, FL), and was a member of Chester Presbyterian Church (Chester, VA).

Among other pursuits, he was a volunteer for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at the Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge for more than 25 years; and a volunteer reader for the National Federation of the Blind of Florida.

He is survived by son, Robert and daughter-in-law, Margaret; son, Michael, and daughter-in-law, Dr. Nancy Brown; and son, Jonathan. Also, grandsons, Andrew, William, and Christopher; granddaughter, Dr. Rebecca Champ; and six great-grandchildren.

Mr. Brown will be laid to rest at Crown Hill Memorial Park, in Clinton, NY.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Masonic Medical Research Institute, 2150 Bleecker St., Utica, NY 13501 or Crater Community Hospice, 3916 S Crater Rd, Petersburg, VA 23805.