Robert E. Brown

Robert E. Brown, 89, of Plainfield, passed away September 14, 2012. He was born November 2, 1922 in Greenfield, IN, to the late Paul and Mary Brown. He was a 1947 graduate of Butler University and US Navy veteran of WW II and the Korean War. Bob retired in 1987 from Lincoln Federal Bank in Plainfield as a loan officer. His memberships include Plainfield United Methodist Church, Plainfield Masonic Lodge # 653, Plainfield Order of Eastern Star, Plainfield Lions Club and Central Indiana Campers. He was also a Plainfield Town Board member in the 1960's. A memorial service will be Tuesday, September 18, at 1:00 pm in Hampton-Gentry Funeral Home, where friends may call from 11:00 am until service time. Burial will be in Crown Hill Cemetery. Survivors include his wife, Thelma (DeBoar) Brown; daughters, Judith E., Teresa G. Brown and Patricia L. Bostwick; sister, Martha Rowell; grandchildren, Aaron, Andrew and Travis Pyle; 2 great grandchildren. Contributions may be made to the church. Grew up on Family Farm outside of Greenfield--attended Friends Meeting (Quakers). Youngest of 4, 2 older brothers, one sister. Raised to be a gentleman--called his mom "Lady". Education was important both Dad's parents were college graduates as were all his siblings. Never a question that his 3 daughters would go to college. Dad worked 2 jobs to put us through college--regular job at the Savings & Loan and moonlighted at Ayres in men's department. Only had one car so most days he rode the bus from Plainfield to Indy and home again. When I was little Dad would pack us all in the car, not tell us where we were going--said we are following the hood ornament--and sometimes we'd get ice cream, root beer or visit cousins to ride horses. Dad was a man of faith--Mom worked most weekends as a nurse so it was Dad's job to make sure we made it to Sunday School and church, he also cooked breakfast on Sunday mornings--scrambled eggs, bacon & toast. I liked my eggs scrambled dry so he would leave some in the pan for me to finish cooking, we also had devotions before breakfast, Bible reading and short story and prayer. Dad was a protective father of his daughters. Made sure our skirts wern't too short, didn't wear too much make-up, I'd have to take off my glasses so he could make sure I didn't have too much eye make-up on--if I did it was back to the bathroom to scrub it off! If we sat too long in a car after coming home from a date Dad would be flashing the front porch light as a warning that we'd better come in or he'd come out! Dad loved Mom--he remembered every holiday with a card and gift--the card was always signed "All my love--Bob". When Elmer's tune would come on the radio he would grab Mom and they would dance around the kitchen. Dad was so proud of his grandsons. When we would visit them in Plainfield he always ask me to bring the boys to the Savings and Loan so he could show them off. he attended ballgames, birthday parties and graduations. Dad taught me my love of reading--he always had magazines, books and newspapers he was reading by his recliner. I think Dad's favorite place to be was in his recliner with a dog on his lap and a book in his hand. Dad loved to camp. When he and Mom retired they traveled all over the US with their camper. He enjoyed meeting new campers. Dad was always smiling--had a ready smile even after Alzheimers had stolen so much of his personality. Even when we would wake him up to tell him we were there to visit him he would grin! The maddest I ever saw my Dad get was when he would pull a metal ice cube tray out of the freezer and it wouldn't be frozen and spill water everywhere--he'd yell "God Bless America!".