Brown, David Richard, 93, of Crestwood, journeyed to heaven to join his beloved wife, Dora Leona (Davis), on Friday, June 23, 2017, in Pacific. David was born June 14, 1924, in Jacksonville, Illinois, to David and Jessie May (Daggett) Brown. He is survived by two daughters, Susan Davis of Napa, California, and Cheryl Brown (Carlos Lozano) of Oakland Park, Florida; one son, Brian Brown (Linda) of Pacific; four grandchildren, Jamie Salyers, Bridget Brown, Zohn Mandel, and Miguel Lozano; four great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by Dora, two sons, David and Richard; three brothers,John, Art, and Fred; and two sisters, Annie and Issabelle.
As a child, David, who was known by his family as Dick, attended Point School and Linnville Christian Church and graduated from Jacksonville High School. He served in the U. S. Army in Germany, California and Kentucky. While in the Army, David met Dora on her birthday in 1946 at the Woolworth’s in Evansville, Indiana, and they were married June 14, 1947, at Wasson Missionary Baptist Church near Eldorado, Illinois. Their first home was in Evansville where David worked for Hoosier Cardinal and Snow Crop Frozen Foods before going to work at Fisher Auto Body, which became part of Chrysler, and necessitated the family’s move to Missouri in 1959. Dave retired in 1980, and he and Dora travelled the world, including a stroll on the Great Wall of China.
David taught his children to be hard workers and resourceful do-it-yourself-ers, lovers of the outdoors, seekers of knowledge, and champions of those in need. He will be remembered as the teller of bad puns (many centered around a tape measurer he carried in his pocket), a demanding consumer, a friendly grandpa to more than his own family’s children, and the party to countless hugs.
Dave, a devoted churchman, moved his membership from Evansville Baptist Church to First Baptist Church of Crestwood in 1960 and has been an active member, over the years volunteering to do maintenance, drive buses full of young people on mission trips, help build a church in Guatemala, work at Vacation Bible School, and sing in the choir. For many years, he lead the singing monthly at church services at Bethesda Nursing Home. Everyone loved to hear Dave sing, one of his great joys. David is also remembered as a Boy Scout Leader and a 29 year volunteer for CORP, St. Louis senior services.
Service will be held Saturday, July 1, at noon in the chapel at Kutis Funeral Home, 10151 Gravois, in Affton with visitation the evening before from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m and Saturday morning from 10:00 to noon. David will be laid to rest next to Dora in Sunset Burial Park. A luncheon will follow at First Baptist Church of Crestwood, 9916 E, Watson Road, Crestwood, 63126. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations to the church.