Herbert Rutherford Brown III

Herbert Rutherford Brown III was born into a modest family on February 19, 1945. His father, Herbert R. Brown Jr., a renowned physician, and his doting mother, Elsie Brown, raised him along with his two sisters, Carlinda (Field) and Karen (Metters). He maintained a close relationship with his parents until their death and with his sisters throughout his entire life. Family was very important to Herb.

After graduating high school, Herb set off to make his way in the world and entered Worcester Polytechnic Institute, where he found his life's calling. Always a tinkerer who could fix anything, Herb studied Mechanical Engineering and became a standout. Also in college, he met Lea (Linda Cambridge) who quickly became the love of his life. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in 1967, and soon afterward, he and Lea solidified their whirlwind romance and vowed to be together forever on October 21, 1967.

Herb spent his early career in the Air Force, but not behind a desk. In addition to his work on the Sidewinder Missile Program, Herb designed and tested parachutes, performing 170 jumps throughout his career. It was an assignment that perfectly combined his engineering expertise with his sense of adventure. He fondly recalled the antics he and his fellow officers would play on the pilots during these testing missions, and one of his highlights was sneaking around to the front of the helicopter and banging on the windshield before jumping away. He holds several patents associated with his work, one of which saved a life during a pilot's airplane ejection. He earned a Master's in Aeronautical Engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology, and his military record is full of accolades from seniors and people who relied upon his expertise. He attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel before his military retirement.

In his later career, he worked for 30 years as a researcher at the Institute for Defense Analysis (IDA). He built a reputation for being thorough, technically proficient, and a true authority in his field. In fact, IDA leadership found his expertise so valuable that they convinced him to work part-time even after his retirement. They promised him summers off, and he continued doing work that he loved.

At home, Herb believed in marriage, and he loved Lea with his entire heart. He would tell you that she was the most beautiful woman he ever saw, and except for work, he never left her side. Whether it was shopping for groceries, biking for miles, adventuring in their camper, exploring in their kayak, or simply doing yard work, they tackled everything as a team. Together, they remodeled houses, built furniture, constructed crafts, installed fences, painted anything that looked slightly worn, and performed repairs with superhuman ability. But Herb was never one to let those tasks get in the way of a good bit of fun. He once custom-built a tandem bicycle out of old parts so that he could help his mother-in-law experience the joy of riding a bicycle for the first time. Upon retirement, he tackled rebuilding a Willys Jeep from the ground up. Like every project, he approached this one with excitement, skill, and a passion for learning new things.

He put that same energy and focus into raising his three children, Jim, Kevin, and Shanda, serving as their biggest supporter and fan. As a parent coach, he led youth soccer teams, and his compassionate leadership set an example for a generation. He led with the philosophy that everyone was in it together, and "HAVE FUN" was his famous phrase, emphasizing that joy should be at the heart of every activity. He channeled his engineering expertise and creativity into making memories for his children, through the construction of elaborate Pac Man and R2D2 Halloween costumes, backyard ice skating rinks, and floating UFO's.

As the years passed, Herb and Lea gained six grandchildren, and he spent countless hours on sports sidelines in support of each of them. Fondly known as "Coach Papa", he left his mark on a new generation. He prioritized time with his grandchildren and eagerly shared his varied interests and wealth of knowledge on a range of topics, from physics to painting and welding. He was never too busy to impart an encouraging word or a bit of wisdom.

Herb was an eternally joyful person and a calming force to all those around him. He knew how to listen and would devote his attention to lifting your spirits. Neighbors, coworkers, and family members all benefited from his unmatched intelligence, kindness, and selflessness.

In death, Herb Brown is survived by his wife, who loves him completely and eternally as he loved her; his sisters Karen and Carlinda; his sons Jim (Darlene and Ellie), Kevin (Eileen and Jack and Henry); and his daughter Shanda (John and Colton, Shane, and Emily). While we say goodbye to Herb in this life, we look forward to seeing him in the next. While we wait, we see the mark he indelibly left on this earth by the people he touched, the dreams he fulfilled, and the memories he made.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Herb's name can be made to Insight Memory Care Center. Donations can be mailed to Insight Memory Care Center, 3953 Pender Drive, Suite 100, Fairfax, VA 22030 or made online at www.insightmcc.org/donate

A celebration of Herb's life will be held on Saturday, February 28 from 10am-1pm at Fairfax Memorial Funeral Home.