Kenneth D. Brown
Kenneth David Brown, age
70, passed away Monday, July 6,
2020, after a hard fought, fouryear battle with esophageal cancer.
He was born Dec. 14, 1949, in Hot Springs, Ark., to the late Calvin Clem Brown and Maxine Inez Norman Brown. He is preceded in death by his only sibling, Norma “Su” Brown Warner.
Ken is survived by his wife of
25 years, Terri Lambeth Brown, and three children, Jeremy (and Nikki) Gingery, of De Queen, Jessica (and David Jensen), of Georgetown, Texas, and Kelli (and Darrell) Williams, of Texarkana, Texas. He also leaves behind six grandchildren, who love him dearly and brought him much joy. Kylee and Kaden McGaha, Presli and Bristol Jensen and Grady and Ava Gingery. Other family to cherish his memory are brothers-in-law Dave Braughton, of Hot Springs, Gary (and Bonnie) Lambeth, Barry (and Charlene) Lambeth, of De Queen; a special cousin, Larry Fikes, of Norman, Okla.; numerous nieces and nephews, as well as a host of friends, colleagues and comrades in arms.
He graduated high school in Denver, Colo., began private flight training and started college in the fall. He made the decision to leave school after the first semester and volunteered for Vietnam. There he earned several medals, including the Bronze Star with oak leaf clusters, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, as well as other medals.
He served one term “in country,” 1968-1969, as a Huey helicopter pilot, during which his ship was shot by enemy fire on two occasions and his flying skills were instrumental in the capture of an enemy machine gun. After his tour in Vietnam, Ken was a flight instructor at Fort Rucker. Upon his Honorable Discharge from the Army, he made a civilian career of flying helicopters, ending with a 15-year stint at Weyerhaeuser Aviation based in De Queen, Ark.
The discipline, loyalty and patriotism he learned in the Army never left him. He is a true Patriot, as friends and family will attest.
Due to COVID-19, there will be a come-and-go public visitation from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, July 11, in the Wilkerson Funeral Home chapel. Outdoor services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, July 13, at the Beacon Hill Seventh-Day Adventist Cemetery.
The family would like to thank the honorary pallbearers, Jack Eller, George Anzelmo, Larry Fikes and Barry Lambeth, all Vietnam veterans, the Army, and the Arkansas Chapter of the Patriot Guard Riders for escorting our American Hero.
Flowers may be sent to Wilkerson Funeral Home or you may choose to honor Ken by donating to the Esophageal Cancer Action Network or the Wounded Warrior Project.
You may register online at http://www.wilkersonfuneralhomes.com.