Robert Clifford Brown, Sr.

Lt. Col. Robert Clifford Brown, USAFR, 88, formerly of 4 Muse Drive, Asheville, died Wednesday, January 25, 2006. A native of Asheville, he was a son of the late John Henry and Lucy Rogers Brown and was also preceded in death by a brother, Millard Ray Brown. Cliff received his Bachelor of Science Degree at Wake Forest University and in 1952 received the first Masters Degree offered at Western Carolina University earning his Masters of Education. He was a high school science teacher with Asheville City and Buncombe County schools for 38 years teaching physics, chemistry and biology. He also taught in Charlotte and Largo, FL. Cliff entered the US Army Air Corps in 1942 as a cadet in aerial photography. He graduated in 1943 and was assigned as Commanding Officer of the photo lab at Herington Air Force Base in Kansas and was later transferred to Castle Air Force Base in Merced, CA. He was released from active duty in 1946 and joined the Air Force Reserve in 1947 when he became a charter member of the 9943rd Air Reserve Squadron, Asheville. He was an active member of the Reserve serving as President, Disaster Control and Civil Defense officer. He was a member of the WNC Chapter of Retired Officers Association and served as Liason Officer with the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs until he retired in 1967 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. A charter member of the Erwin District Lions Club, chartered in 1956, he served as president as well as all other offices including secretary of District 31- A. In 1995 he was named a Melvin Jones Fellow by the Lions Club International Foundation, the highest form of recognition conferred by the foundation. Cliff was a member of the NC Association of Educators, the NC Retired Government Employees Association and the National Educators Association. He was an active member of Central United Methodist Church in Asheville for over 50 years and was involved in many of the church ministries including Chancel Choir, Sunday School teacher, United Methodist Men and a member of the Administration Board. Cliff and his wife Helen were members of the WNC Methodist Building Teams in Caribbean Areas, serving in Panama, Monterrey, Mexico, Acapulco, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. Cliff is survived by his wife of 62 years, Helen Muse Brown; a daughter, Linda Brown Adams and husband David of Asheville; a son, Robert Clifford Brown, Jr. and wife Diane of Florence, SC; a sister, Kate Brown Mills of Knoxville; six grandchildren, Robert Christopher Brown of Denver, CO, Kevin Scott Brown of New York, Vincent Gregory Brown of Florence, Stacy Linda Brown of Asheville, Millicent Helen Brown of Asheville and Lori Brown Rogers of Florence and five great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be 2:00 pm Saturday in the Patton Avenue Chapel of Groce Funeral Home with the Revs. Christy Harley Matlick and Kevin Scott Brown officiating. Burial will follow at Green Hills Cemetery with members of the Erwin District Lions Club serving as honorary pall bearers. The family will receive friends from 7:00-8:30 pm Friday at the funeral home.