Robert Ray "Bob" Brown
Robert Ray Brown, 87, longtime resident of Waurika, went to be with the Lord on May 20, 2015. He was born November 16, 1927 in Waurika, to Frank Hanko and Maria Stella Gibbons Brown. Bob loved sports and lettered in football, basketball and track all four years while attending Waurika High School and was also a state champion in the discus. Bob started working for the Rock Island Railroad at age 17 as a Locomotive Fireman and at the age of 18 joined the US Army during World War II and was stationed in Japan where he became a paratrooper.
Bob met and married the love of his life, Betty Brown of Rush Springs, while attending Central State College in Edmund, OK. Bob would graduate with a BA in Education from Central State and go on to obtain his Masters Degree in Education from Oklahoma State University. Bob started teaching and coaching in Duncan in 1952. Bob had a true passion for working with kids through teaching, administering, coaching, giving swim lessons and refereeing. He was the Cleveland High School Principal at Cleveland, OK for seven years and went on to become the Superintendent of the Waurika School System for 12 years. After retirement from the Oklahoma School System, he became the Counselor at Hirschi High School in Wichita Falls, TX.
Bob enjoyed golfing, fishing, hunting and scuba diving. He also enjoyed traveling and exploring, and visited several countries in South America, Europe and Africa. Bob was also very active with the local community and served as President of the Rotary Club in Cleveland, State President of the Oklahoma Association of School Business Officials, Board of Directors of the Jefferson County Hospital and Board of Adjustment & Planning & Zoning for the City of Waurika. Bob was a longtime member of the Methodist church where he served as Treasurer in Waurika for 15 years and taught Sunday School for five years.
Bob loved spending time with his family including his faithful dog, Sandy.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Betty Brown, and his son, Dr. Donald Dee Brown.
Survivors include: Two sons – Dr. Joe Brown (wife Mette) and Jim Bob (JB) Brown (wife Maggie), both of Huntsville, AL; four grandchildren, Rachael (husband Patrick), Payton (fiancée Nora); Malcolm and Dylan; two great-grandchildren, Lizzie and William.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 23 at 10 AM at the First United Methodist Church in Waurika, with Rev. Karen Slater officiating. Burial will be at the Waurika Cemetery under the direction of Dudley Funeral Home of Waurika. Visitation will be Friday, May 22 from 5 PM – 7 PM at the Dudley Funeral Home Chapel in Waurika. In lieu of flowers, Bob requested that any contributions may be made to the Donald Dee Brown Scholarship Fund - Box 293, Waurika, OK 73573 or the First United Methodist Church of Waurika.