Roy Brown

Roy James Brown of Norwood, North Carolina died Friday, September 6, 2013 at Stanly Manor in Albemarle. He was born on April 5, 1928 in Norwood, NC. Mr. Brown was preceded in death by his wife, Sadie Wallace Brown, mother, Gertie Farrell Strother, father, Charlie James Brown, and sister, Eunice Rebecca Brown Nance. He served as Service Manager of Stovall-Wolfe Motor Company for many years as well as operated Brown’s Auto Repair, which sold Case tractors and other farm equipment. In both 1968 and 1969, Ford Motor Company awarded him their Bronze Medallion Manager Award for excellence in service management. From 1971 to 1993, he worked for the Town of Norwood in various capacities. For the majority of this time period, he served as the Director of Public Works. His personal work efforts resulted in the Town of Norwood obtaining federal grant money to build both the new water and wastewater plants. Additionally, his hard work resulted in major improvements to the local sport fields and facilities. Brown Circle at the U.S. Post Office in Norwood was named for him in honor of his significant contributions to the Town of Norwood. Mr. Brown served in the North Carolina National Guard, and he greatly assisted Albemarle Police Chief, Craven C. Tarleton, and others to form the Albemarle Police Reserve. Mr. Brown served as Captain of the Police Reserve for several years, and the Albemarle Board of Commissioners presented him with a five-year service certificate on February 25, 1963. Mr. Brown enjoyed hunting, fishing, and talking on his CB radio where he was known as “Clear-Water Man”. Survivors include sons, Douglas J. Brown (LTC, USA RET) and wife, Jane C. Brown of Springfield, VA, Stephen R. Brown (COL, USMC RET) and wife, Laura B. Brown of Basel, Switzerland, four grandchildren, Elizabeth J. Kass and husband Shawn of Farmington Hills, Michigan, Brantley D. Brown and wife, Lisa of Washington, D.C., Julie B. Anderson and husband, Michael of Washington, D.C., and Kristen B. Ducey and husband, Timothy of El Paso, Texas, and great grandson, William H. Ducey. The family would like to thank the staffs of both Stanly Regional Medical Center and Stanly Manor for the compassionate and loving care which they provided to Mr. Brown during the past several months. The family will receive friends at Hartsell Funeral Home in Albemarle from 6:00 to 8:00 on Wednesday evening, September 11, 2013. A graveside service will be held on Thursday morning, September 12, 2013 at 11:00 at Porter Baptist Church located on US Highway 52 South between Albemarle and Norwood. For those who wish to make memorial gifts, the family requests that gifts be made to the Alzheimer’s Association National Office, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Floor 17, Chicago, IL 60601-7633 or the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, 322 8th Ave., 6th Floor, New York, NY 10001 to honor Mr. Brown’s dedication to his wife of 58 years who died of Alzheimer’s disease in February 2007. Hartsell Funeral Home is serving the Brown family.