Charlie Brown's Obituary
Charles R. Brown, “Charlie Brown,” 94, of Wheeler, TX, was called by his Lord to rest high on that mountain on Monday, August 14, 2023 in Canyon, TX. Graveside services will be at 10:00 AM Wednesday, August 16, 2023 at Wheeler Cemetery in Wheeler, TX, with Gavin McQueen officiating, assisted by Mike Holt.
Arrangements are by Robertson Funeral Directors of Wheeler.
Born April 7, 1929 in Hooker, OK to W.E. and Mary Elizabeth Brown, Charlie was the 9th child of 13 and was the last survivor. He went to grade school in Hooker, then graduated high school from Adams, OK with two of his brothers, Joe and Gene. He then went to West Texas College in Canyon for one year. Charlie married Shirley Hearn on October 14, 1950. They had 2 children, David and Sally. Their marriage ended in 1973.
Charlie was drafted into the United States Army on January 1, 1951 during the Korean War. He served as a surveyor for the 37th Field Artillery 2nd Infantry Division. He was promoted to Sergent and received two Korean Bronze Stars. Charlie was honorably discharged from service in October, 1952. He then enrolled in college at Oklahoma State University, where he graduated with honors and was a member of Alpha Zeta National Honorary Agricultural Society. After college, he worked as a County Extension Agent and later as Supervisor for Farmers Home Administration. Charlie entered the banking business in 1962, starting with First National Bank in Childress, TX, then First National Bank in Memphis, TX. During his time banking in Memphis, he graduated from Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. He joined the First National Bank in Wheeler in 1970 as President and Chief Executive Officer, where he served for 24 years, retiring in December, 1994. Charlie belonged to many organizations and was a member of First Methodist Church in Wheeler. The Wheeler Chamber of Commerce chose Charlie as Man of the Year in 2000. He was past President of the Wheeler Chamber of Commerce and the first President of the Wheeler Economic Development Corporation. He served 8 years on the Board of Directors for High Plains Higher Education in Canyon and served a 2-year term on the Board of Directors of the Texas Bankers Association. He was also past President of Greenbelt Bankers Association and served on the Draft Board Selective Services during part of the Vietnam War, where he received Presidential recognition.
Charlie married Ann Farnsworth in 1974. She passed away in August, 1983. He later married Armell Holt, who passed away in 1997 after a battle with cancer.
Charlie was preceded in death by his parents; 8 brothers; 4 sisters; wife Ann Brown; wife Armell Holt Brown; and the mother of his children, Shirley Kyle.
Survivors include his son, David Brown and wife, Julia; daughter, Sally Fincher and husband, Jimmy; his extended family who he loved as his own, Stacy McQueen and husband, Max; Miles Farnsworth; Mike Holt and wife, Cindy; Carol Holt Scott and husband, Bill; 9 grandkids; several great grandkids; and a host of loving nieces and nephews.
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