Richard Albert Brown

Richard A. "Dick" Brown of Conroe, Texas, passed away February 1, 2026. He was born December 21, 1937, in Spencer, North Carolina to Carney Ray and Elizabeth Williams Brown who preceded him in death. Preceding him in death are brothers, Billy Ray Brown and Robert Carol Brown. He is survived by sister, Joyce Elizabeth Brown, and brother Darrell Parker Brown. Dick met Penelope "Penny" Briggs while working at Vitro Corporation, in Silver Spring, Maryland where she was a college summer intern technical illustrator. They began dating and married her senior year at the University of Maryland, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Their first two children, Derek Michael and Barrington Lee, were born in Silver Spring, Maryland. During those years Dick served in the United States Coast Guard Reserve. Teri Lynn was born after they moved to Greenville, Texas. While employed at E-Systems Dick earned a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism from East Texas A&M University - Commerce. He took early retirement from Raytheon (who had acquired E-Systems) as Supervisor of Proposal-Presentation Services Graphic Group. He was a member of Raytheon Management Club, and as President of Hunt County Republican Men's Club managed several successful local and national congressional campaigns. Dick loved his family and was actively involved as a member and president of the Greenville High School Lion Backers Club. He and Penny enjoyed participating in their children's school activities and on the athletic playing field. Penny was a supportive mom who worked in concession stands and made Teri's costumes for the Band and Flash Floor Show. Teri played the flute in the marching band, was a flag corps member, and joined the Flaming Flashes drill team her senior year. She graduated from the University of Texas-Austin, with a Bachelor's Degree in Russian and East European Studies. She married Eric Klimpel and has two children, Ashley and Austin. Barry played center on the Greenville Lions football team and graduated from Texas Tech University with a Bachelor of Political Science Degree. He married Jennifer Young and has two children, Leighton and Gipson. Derek played trombone in the marching band and the award-winning GHS Jazz Band and graduated from the University of Texas-Arlington with a Bachelor's Degree in Russian. He married Adrianne Costa. Dick and Penny loved and were very proud of their children and enjoyed being active with their grandchildren's lives. After retiring from Raytheon, Dick put his Journalism Degree to use at the Commerce Journal newspaper staff as a reporter. Later he was transferred to the Greenville Herald Banner. There he covered politics, Friday night football, daily news events, and wrote a weekly column, The Bottom Line. He and Penny moved to Bay City in 2000 to be near Teri and husband Rev. Eric Klimpel, and their grandchildren Ashley and Austin. There he continued writing his weekly column for the Bay City Tribune. His favorite subjects were his grandchildren. Dick and Penny moved to Winston-Salem, North Carolina in 2004 to be near his three brothers and sister when he began having health issues. They took advantage of being near Barry, Jennifer, Leighton and Gipson on many weekend and holiday visits to Washington, D.C. Dick's health improved and he self-published his first book, King of the Mountain: The Jerry Moore Story. After nine years, they moved back Texas where they enjoyed a year with Teri's family before Eric accepted a call to Palestine Lutheran Church in Huxley, Iowa. Dick and Penny remained in Conroe, Texas where he continued to write and had seven novels published by Soulmate Publishing. They found a church home and family in The Woodlands Methodist Church where they made many wonderful friends in the Friendship Sunday School class. He became active in a Men's Book Study group, weekly breakfast with ROMEO friends (Retired Old Men Eating Out). Penny was active with the Craft Circle and Prayer Shawl Ministry and had many cat loving friends. A memorial service to celebrate Richard "Dick" Brown's life will be held at the Woodlands Methodist Church at a later date. Details will be announced by the family once finalized. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the National Cancer Center.