Philip R. Brown

1926-2014

NEWPORT - Philip R. Brown, 88, Maine State Police Trooper retired, died Sept 22, 2014 at Sebasticook Valley Hospital Pittsfield after a short illness.

He was born in Robbinston, Maine, Feb. 5, 1926, the son of Ernest C. and Princess (Wilson) Brown. He was educated in Robbinston Schools and attended Calais Academy until he enlisted in the Navy at age 17. Following boot camp he was sent to basic hospital school to learn to be corpsman. Upon the completion of his hospital corpsman training he was transferred to the Fleet Marines and sent to San Diego, California, for three months more training and then sent overseas. They went to Guadalcanal in the South Pacific for more training and then they were sent to invade Guam. The last day before Guam was secured he was wounded. He was treated and operated on aboard a hospital ship until he was ready to return to combat. Once declared fit for duty he landed on Iwo Jima in the second wave. He saw the raising of the flag and also saw all the men that died raising it. He was awarded a Purple Heart for his combat wounds.

Following the war he returned to Maine and attended Coburn Classical Institute and received his high school diploma.

He married Grace McCleary in Brewer June 21, 1946. She predeceased him on Sept 7, 2013. They were married for 67 years.

In 1951 Phil joined the Maine State Police and attended the Police Academy. Following his graduation he was stationed in Danforth, Maine, as a patrol trooper. In 1954 he was transferred to Newport as a patrol trooper patrolling from Pittsfield to Bangor and all the roads in between. In 1962 he transferred to the Traffic Division where he remained until his retirement in late 1972.

Phil was employed at several jobs after his retirement: He sold cars at Hartley's in Corinna and he sold homes in the area. He was also a licensed private investigator and he worked for 10 years as a Penobscot County Deputy Sheriff in the Civil Department. He worked at the Brown Funeral Home as a funeral attendant with his son for over 20 years.

Phil loved to play golf; he was an avid outdoorsman, enjoying hunting and fishing. He was a member of Barrows-Skidgel American Legion Post 105 of Newport, and a member of VFW Post 11191 of Newport. He also was very active in the Boy Scouts of America. In late 1959 he and a few other men reorganized Troop 63 BSA in Newport and they received the charter that has now been active for over 50 years. He was not the Scoutmaster but he was the one that took the Scouts to Camp Roosevelt in the summer. He was also active in Penquis District BSA as the Advancement Chair. He was active for many years as his son progressed in scouting. In the mid 1980s he became active again in Troop 63 as his grandson progressed in his scouting career. He always claimed his proudest moments in scouting where when his son and then his grandson received the Eagle Scout badges.

For the past several years he was been an active volunteer at the Newport Community Food Bank.

He is survived by his son and wife, Philip W. and Barbara Brown of Newport; his grandson and his wife, Peter J. and Anne-Marie Brown of Falmouth; his granddaughter, Sara Brown of South Portland; two great-grandchildren, Elizabeth Grace Brown and Zachary Robert Brown, both of Falmouth; his sister, Barbara Barns of Robbinston; several nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his wife, an infant son, Patrick Leonard Brown, a sister, Betty Blood, and his brother, Dr. Harold Brown.

Friends may call Wednesday Sept 24, 2014, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Brown Funeral Home and Cremation Service Center, 34 High Street, Newport. Funeral service will be held 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 25, 2014, at the Brown Funeral Home with the Rev. Terry McKinley officiating. Burial will follow at Riverside Cemetery with military and State Police Honors.

Friends who wish may make memorial donations to the Newport Community Food Bank, 26 High Street, Newport, Maine 04953

To sign an online guest book and leave written tributes please visit www.PhilipBrownFuneralHome.com