COL. BUDDY L. BROWN RETIRED

BROWN, COL. BUDDY L. (RETIRED) - age 85 of Knoxville, TN went home to be with the Lord Saturday, October 18, 2014. He was born to Wiley and Nora Brown in Coalinga, CA on July 21, 1929. He was a member and Deacon of Central Baptist Church of Bearden. Buddy received a degree in chemistry from Bakersfield College, did graduate work at the University of Nebraska, Omaha, and continued his education at Air University (USAF). Buddy entered the Air Force directly from college and made it his career over 30 years. He was a fighter pilot during the Korean War, and flew an F-86 during combat in Korea, and also flew during the Vietnam War. He also flew an F-84, T-33, F-5, T-38, F-104, U-2 (8 years) and an SR-71 (7 years). Air Force assignments included: Director of Reconnaissance for 15th Air Force; Commander, U-2, DC 130, RPVs (drones) U-Tapao Thailand; Director of Aeronautical Requirements, Strategic Air Command; Director of Reconnaissance, Europe, and Director of Reconnaissance, Strategic Air Command; retiring from the Air Force in 1983. Military Service Awards include the Legion of Merit (Two Oak Leaf Clusters); Distinguished Flying Cross (Two Oak Leaf Clusters); Bronze Star; Air Medal (16 Oak Leaf Cluster). Buddy then became a Staff Engineer at Lockheed Advanced Development Company (Skunk Works); designed reconnaissance package for F-117 stealth fighter/bomber; Pilot advisor to NASA (Dryden Research Center) for high speed altitude flight tests conducted in the SR-71, and retired from Lockheed in 1996. Professional organizations include: the Rotary Club, Retired Officers Association, Daedalians, F-86 Sabre Pilots Association, American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics, Flight Test Foundation, Quiet Birdman, Air Force Association, Knoxville 8th Air Force Association, Blackbird Association and Aviation Pioneers. In addition to his parents, Buddy is preceded in death by his sister Wanda Plunket. He is survived by his loving wife of 31 years Nancy Burns Brown; son and daughter-in-law Greg and Deanna Brown of Sutter, CA; son and daughter-in-law Scott and Giusy Brown of Pasadena, CA, and daughter Cindy Meacham of Huntington Beach, CA, and several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and sister Darlene Poston, all of CA. Funeral service with Military Honors will be held 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, October 21, 2014, Rose Mortuary Mann Heritage Chapel with Rev. Jim Henry officiating. Receiving of friends will precede the service from 5:00-7:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to "Wounded Warriors Project" P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas 66675 (www.woundedwarriorproject.org) or to "Disabled American Veterans", VA Regional Office, 110 9th Avenue South, Room C166B, Nashville, TN 37203. On-line condolences may be extended at www.rosemortuary.com Arrangements by Rose Mortuary Mann Heritage Chapel.