Edward Owen Brown

Published 8:55 am Tuesday, August 21, 2012

COLERAIN – Edward Owen Brown, age 90, of Morris Ford Road, Colerain, died Saturday, August 18, 2012, at Windsor House in Windsor.

Mr. Brown was born in Bertie County on September 14, 1921, a son of the late Minnie Perry and Issac M. Brown.  Edward lived most of his adult life outside of North Carolina.  After graduating from Mars Hill High School, he attended East Carolina College in Greenville for three years before being called into service during World War II.  Ed signed up for the Navy and was shipped to Great Lakes, IL for training.  While stationed there, he went to Yeoman school.  After completion of school, he was shipped to Norfolk and assigned to a destroyer.  His shipped sailed through the Panama Canal for a tour of duty in the South Pacific.  Ed remained in the area around Tokyo for a short time after the war ended before returning to San Diego, CA for discharge.

Soon after discharge, Ed came home for one month, found out that farming was not for him and returned to southern California.  He worked various jobs for a few years before going to work for Ford Motor Company in Los Angeles.  After 30 years with Ford, he retired and continued living in southern California.  Mr. Brown built a new home in Fallbrook, CA, about midway between Los Angeles and San Diego, known as the avocado capital of the world, and he grew acres of the avocado fruit.

In August of 2007, Ed returned to North Carolina to live with his sister Joy.  “The only thing better,” he said, “would have been for Joy to come to southern California, but that was not in the cards.”

Left to cherish his memory are his sisters, Viola B. Outland and her husband, Felton Outland, Sr., of Sunbury, and Joy B. Sumner of Colerain.  He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.  Mr. Brown was predeceased by his sisters, Evelyn Leggett and Barbara Wiggins, and brothers, Ralph Brown, Eugene Brown, Carroll Brown, and Marshall Brown.

“My love lives on.”  Ed Brown.

A celebration of life graveside service was conducted on Monday, August 20, 2012 in Highland Memorial Gardens, Ahoskie, with the Rev. Bob Johnson officiating.  The family will receive friends at the home of Joy Brown Sumner.  Memorial donations may be made to Mars Hill Baptist Church, 1325 Meadow Rd., Colerain, NC, 27924; or to Trap Volunteer Fire Department, 1404 Meadow Rd., Colerain, NC, 27924.

Garrett-Jones Funeral Home is serving the Brown family.  Family and friends may send condolences by visiting www.garrettjonesfh.com.