Walter T. Brown Sr.

Walter T. Brown Sr. VIRGINIA BEACH - Walter T. Brown Sr., a 52-year resident of Princess Anne County and Virginia Beach, passed away July 15, 2009. He was born in Akron, Ohio, Dec. 27, 1924. Walter was predeceased by his parents, Donald Henry Brown and Harriet Susan Dewalt Brown; two sisters, Susan Dell Kozdron and Grace Anna Jenkins, all of Akron; and a son-in-law, Raymond W. Engle of Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Walter is survived by his devoted and loving wife of 64 years, Billie Frances Felts Brown; one son, Walter Thomas Brown Jr., his wife Kim and their daughter Olivia of Chesapeake; and three daughters, Kathrynn M. Engle of Virginia Beach, her son, Michael of Charlottesville, his wife Alethia Ciprian of Madrid, Spain, and close family friend, Hawk; Kolleen M. Gimbert and Johnny Gimbert of Virginia Beach and their sons, Kenneth and Benjamin of Virginia Beach; and Kriste M. Camsky and her husband Mark of Virginia Beach and their children, Jason of Fairfax and Logan of Virginia Beach, and Heather Harcum and her husband Chad of Midlothian. Walter has three great-grandchildren and two step great-grandchildren. He will also be fondly remembered by his loving in-laws, Homer Felts, Laurie (Tom) and Janet Felts, Lois (Anne) and Bob Pickrell, and his many nieces and nephews. He is also survived by two sisters, Kemp Morgan of Jacksonville, Fla., and Jane Gray of North Logan, Utah. Walter enlisted in the U.S. Navy at the age of 17 and flew 51 combat missions with Fleet Air Wing 7 from October 1943 to November 1944. He served with PBM Squadron VP-210 and later commissioned a B-24 Squadron, VB-111, which served in England and French Morocco. He was later attached to B-24 Squadron VB-103, Crew 10, in Dunkeswell, England and his crew was credited with sinking German submarine U-971. He was again called to active duty during the Korean War. For his distinguished service, Walter was awarded the European African Ribbon, Good Conduct Ribbon, Navy Commendation Ribbon, four Air Medals, World War II Victory Ribbon, and Korean Conflict Ribbon. He continued his service in the U.S. Naval Reserve, retiring with a total of 37 years of active and reserve duty. After leaving active duty, Walter went to work for the civil service as an Industrial Engineering Technician at the Naval Air Rework Facility, NAS, Norfolk, where he designed numerous buildings including Aviation Intermediate Maintenance Depots facilities at Cecil Field, Jacksonville, Fla., and U.S. Naval Stations in Rota, Spain and Sigonella, Italy. He also designed an AIMD and laid out an entire naval base complex for the Shah of Iran. Walter was a generous, talented and creative man. From the age of 13, he worked to support his mother and his four sisters. As a young, unmarried enlisted sailor, he sent his entire paycheck home to his mother, only accepting a small allowance from her for necessities. Walter was an experienced handyman and could build or repair anything. He was an experienced draftsman, designing the home in which he has lived for the last 48 years. His hobbies included developing conceptual designs for new types of engines and transmissions, which he had hoped to one day build working prototypes. Walter traveled all over the world while in the military and as a civil servant. He was also a licensed pilot. In addition to his family, of the things that he was most proud was his naval career and service to his country. Walter was a wonderful husband and father who will be greatly missed. The Brown family would like to express its deepest gratitude for the wonderful care that Walter received from the doctor, the nurses, and the staff of the Virginia Beach Rehabilitation and Health Center. A graveside service will be conducted Saturday at 2 p.m. at Princess Anne Memorial Park with the Rev. Danny Kesner officiating. The family will receive friends at Hollomon-Brown Funeral Home, Great Neck Chapel, today from 7 to 9 p.m. Condolences may be offered to the family at www.hollomon-brown.com.