Bert Orville Brown

Bert Orville Brown, 90, passed from this life on Saturday, January 12, 2013 at his home in Blum, Texas.Bert was part Cherokee Indian, born on April 24, 1922, the 3rd of 13 children born to the late Joe Brown and the late Vera Cowden Brown. The son of a trucking company family, (Joe Brown Company) he would work briefly in the family business before joining the US Army Air Corps in 1941.He would become a flight engineer during World War II for a B-24 bomber crew, overseeing more than 43 missions out of Canosa Italy. While in the service, he was associated with the 15th Air Corp, 464th Bomber group and the 777th Bomb Squadron. His relationships with his fellow servicemen remained strong, and he loved communicating with them when able.After his military service, he would attend the University of Tulsa, receiving his degree in petroleum engineering in 1950. His first 6 months after school would find him "roughnecking" to learn as much as possible about the field work. He would eventually work for The Texaco Oil Company, retiring in 1987.For a short time after retirement he would remain active as a petroleum consultant and Professor at South Plains College in Levelland, Texas. He would eventually settle in the small community of Blum, Texas, where he would reside for the rest of his life. Bert loved planting trees. While in Levelland he planted a pecan orchard, and most recently was attempting to raise peach trees in Blum. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Ruth McClaskey Brown; children, Joe Bert Brown and his wife Stacy, Edna Martin and her husband Randy, Shirley Brown Gent and her husband Stephen, Mickey Cowden Brown and his wife Claudette; 15 grandchildren; 4 great-grandchildren; brother, Dale Brown, Sisters, Maxine Bumgarner, Dott Wells, Fern Primrose, Bernice "Bill" King and her husband Jimmy.In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his siblings, Joe Dewey Brown, James Warrior Brown, Gene Brown, Clifford Brown, Ted Brown, Rachael Brown Reese; grandchildren, Eric Hall and Tanner Dakota Brown.Visitation: 12 to 1 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 17, 2013 at Guerrero-Dean Funeral Home, 500 E. Main Street, Grand Prairie, Texas, 75050 where funeral services will follow at 1, Mr. Sal Cimino officiating. Burial with military honors will follow at DFW National Cemetery.The family request donations in Bert's name to Isaiah's Place, 231 HCR 1207, Whitney, TX., 76692, or a random act of kindness done in his honor.

Bert Orville Brown

April 24, 1922 - January 12, 2013