Kenneth Brown

BROWN, Kenneth L., Sgt. 1st Class. U.S. Army (Ret.), age 63, of Chester, Va., fought his last, brave battle with cancer and marched up to heaven on the eve of October 18, 2010. He was preceded in death by his parents, Edwin Brown and Margaret Brown; his brother, James Brown; and sisters, Elizabeth Brown and Barbara Morris. Kenneth was born January 6, 1947 in Richmond, Va., but made his home with his family in Chester. Kenneth served his country nobly as a soldier and member of the Food Management Assistance Team and was "Soldier of the Year" at Ft. Lee, Va., in the 1980s. He was well known and respected among the ranks of food service and other military specialties during his military career. Kenneth received numerous awards and medals, and upon retirement, was honored by the U.S. Army with the Meritorious Service Metal. Kenneth continued his career in food service after his retirement from the Army as the food service director at Hanover County Jail until its closure. After the closure of the jail, Kenneth followed one of his longtime interests to be a truck driver. He trained and was certified as a Class A truck driver and worked with an environmental company for several years, assisting with the eco-friendly disposal of hazardous waste. Before the onset of his cancer, his last position was with Trafford Corp. as a truck driver working alongside his fellow workers, installing the newly regulated and improved natural gas lines to the surrounding Richmond community. Kenneth, also known as "Kenny" or "Ken" for those who were close to him, was a husband, daddy, uncle, friend, soldier and a hero. Ken was somewhat reserved, but had a wild, fun-loving spirit at times, and for those he loved and cared for, he did so with a strong conviction. Ken loved fishing, NASCAR and his favorite football team was the Dallas Cowboys. He was surrounded by his loving family on the last days of his life when he passed peacefully at home in his own bed and took his final journey marching home. A quote from his son Michael, "When Pop died his spirit was freed. Now he can be in peace and he can have anything his heart desires because he is home." Ken is survived by his wife, the love of his life and best friend, Alicia; his heart and beloved son, Michael; his youngest daughter, Natalie and her son, Julius; his eldest daughter, Katherine and her daughters, Devon and Jordan; his middle daughter, Rachel and her husband, Justin, and their son, Dorian; his devoted sister, Joan Guthrie; his nieces and nephews, Jerry and Carroll Slaymaker, Joe and Sandy Deshazo, Joe and Suzanne Morris, David and Wendy Lane; his best friend of over 55 years, Ronald Anderson; numerous grandnieces and nephews, other family and friends. "And now I join those that I loved that left before me and leave behind my loved ones that will keep me in their hearts and minds." There will be no interment as Kenneth's last wishes were to be cremated. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, October 28, 2010 at 11 a.m. at Ft. Lee, Memorial Chapel, 1901 Sisisky Blvd., Fort. Lee Va. 23801.


This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.