WILMINGTON — Lawrence C. Brown, formerly of Tarrytown, N.Y., died at the age of 93 on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2016.
Born July 17, 1923, he was the son of the late Layton and Elizabeth (Donohue) Brown and was the beloved husband of Irene Brown, who predeceased him in 2012. He was also predeceased by a daughter, Valerie Irene, who died in 1946 at one month of age. He leaves a son, Michael, and his wife, Lisa, of Chatham, Mass.
Larry met Irene in 1943 at a dance in Leamington Spa, England, while he was serving in the U.S. Army Medical Corps. Married in 1945, Irene arrived in the U.S. in 1946 aboard an ocean liner commissioned for the purpose of transporting “war brides” from Europe. They were truly lovebirds.
Larry was head custodian engineer at John Paulding Elementary School in Tarrytown, N.Y. After retirement, Larry and Irene moved to Wilmington in 1984.
He was a talker, made countless friends on and off the golf course and volunteered for many community groups. In 2013, in celebration of his 90th birthday, Larry was honored with a proclamation presented by Mayor Bill Saffo, on behalf of the City Council of Wilmington, “for many years of compassionate and caring service to his family and community.”
Larry grew up in a large family of 19 children, brothers Joseph, Layton Jr. (Jimmy), Edwin, John, Donald, Eugene and William; and sisters, Marion, Virginia, Veronica, Evelyn, Helen, Beatrice, Geraldine, Shirley, Doris, Gail and Florence. He is also survived by nieces and nephews too numerous to mention.
A celebration of his life will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 14, at St. Mark Catholic Church, Eastwood Road, Wilmington.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Mark Catholic Church, 1011 Eastwood Road, Wilmington, NC 28403. If donating, please note “For Children’s Faith Formation” in the memo field. Larry had a great love for children and any contribution would have made him very pleased.
