Charles Earl Brown

Charles Earl Brown, 85, a resident of Springdale, entered Heaven, Sept. 4, 2012, in Springdale. He was born Nov. 13, 1926, in Greenwood to Arch and Pearl Owens Brown. He was a member of First Baptist Church Fayetteville and served as a deacon, usher and longtime youth Sunday School and Royal Ambassador teacher at Elmdale Baptist Church. He was past-president of the NWA Baptist Brotherhood Organization. He was preceded in death by his son, Charles Earl Brown Jr.; brothers, John, Tink and Maury Brown; and sisters, Mary Hodges, Beatrice Moore, Marie Hyman, Josephine Fears and Ernestine Brasher. Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Patsy Kersh Brown of the home; sisters, Nancy Williams of Van Buren and Lois Geels of Ft. Smith; daughters, Barbara Pilgrim of Garland, Texas, Brenda Wentz of Goshen, and Julie Rogers of Springdale; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. A WW II Army veteran, he served in Egypt and Iran, where he was assigned to transportation and motor pool duty and delighted in telling stories of ferrying Army officials and families to see the ancient pyramids. A master-plumber and member of the Plumbers and Steamfitters Local Union 29 in Ft. Smith, he enjoyed a 50-year career. A longtime superintendent for Malone's Mechanical of Van Buren, he was proud of his contributions to numerous NWA landmarks, including Walton Arts Center, many University of Arkansas dorms and buildings and renovations to the original Washington Regional Medical Center and McKee Foods in Gentry. He loved to travel, including family-driving vacations throughout the western U.S. and later with his loving wife, Pat, on trips to the Holy Land, Greece, Germany and the Bavarian Alps. He enjoyed attending Razorback games and rarely missed listening to Northwest Arkansas Naturals radio broadcasts. An enthusiastic WATCH D.O.G.S. volunteer at Tyson Elementary School, he was a patient and loving grandfather, providing instruction from how to tend his annual summer garden to learning how to drive. After retirement, he directed his energies into managing flea market booths and was an expert yard sale bargain finder. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m., Friday, Sept. 7 at Sisco Funeral Chapel. Funeral services will be Sept. 8, 2012, at 2 p.m. at Sisco Funeral Chapel with Pastors Douglas Falknor and Jack Bettis officiating. Burial will follow at Bluff Cemetery. Pallbearers will be: Greg Hicks, Andrew Pendleton, Bill Rogers, Greg Rogers, Michael Wentz and David Wentz. Honorary pallbearers will be: Dale Brown, Darrel McFarlane, Harold Pilgrim and Ken Wentz. Memorial contributions may be made to the First Baptist Church of Fayetteville One Heart, One Treasure building fund and The Gideons International. Arrangements are under the direction of Sisco Funeral Chapel of Springdale. To sign the online guestbook, please visit www.siscofuneral.com