Submitted by: Dan Rich
Dec. 23, 1926 - July 12, 1998
South Bend Tribune 7/14/1998
MISHAWAKA - Richard F. ''Dick'' Brown, 71, passed away after an illness at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, July 12, at his home. He is survived by Nancy Brooks Brown, his wife of 49 years. Dick was born in Dayton, Ohio, on Dec. 23, 1926, to Jeanette and Frederick Brown. He grew up in Sarasota, Fla., and served in the United States Navy from 1944 to 1947. He received his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in electrical engineering from the University of Florida.
Dick married Nancy in Newburyport, Mass., on July 10, 1949. They started their life together at the University of Florida, lived eight years in Forth Worth, Texas, and settled in the South Bend/Mishawaka area in 1962. Dick was a loving father to four children, Jeff of Mishawaka, Ind., Eric of South Bend, Ind., Kathy Fish of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Randy of Chicago, Ill. He was the grandfather of Jennifer and Geoff Brown, Joshua and Jacob Brown, Bryan Dzialo and Margaret Fish. He is also survived by two brothers, Thomas and Phillip of Sarasota, Fla.
As an electrical engineer, Dick worked for General Dynamics in Fort Worth and Bendix in Mishawaka. He co-founded Computer Creations in 1976 and returned to Bendix when the business was sold in 1986. He retired from Bendix in 1992. Dick drew his enjoyment in life from his family, his church, his golf, and as an avid Indiana University basketball fan. He was a charter member of Clay United Methodist Church and was very active in the choir, as a tenor and as choir librarian. He was a volunteer with the Sidewalk Sunday School program at the church. Dick also volunteered his time as a tutor for the Literacy Council of St. Joseph County.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, July 15, at the Clay United Methodist Church, 17646 Cleveland Road, South Bend. Friends may call prior to the service, beginning at 9:30 a.m. at the church. The family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Hospice of St. Joseph County, 111 Sunnybrook Court, South Bend; and to the Clay United Methodist Church, Music Department, 17646 Cleveland Road, South Bend. The Welsheimer Funeral Home, 17033 Cleveland Road, is handling arrangements.