George Thomas Brown

GEORGE THOMAS BROWN July 6, 1906 – July 3, 2006 Pioneer Wacoan George T. Brown, one of God’s remarkable children, passed away Monday, July 3, 2006, three days before his 100th birthday. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 pm, Saturday, July 8 at the Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Bosque Chapel. Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be from 6 – 8 pm, Friday, July 7 at the funeral home. George was born July 6, 1906 in Hearne, Texas to Mr and Mrs George Washington Brown. The family moved to Waco in 1918 and bought the historic Fort House on S. 4th Street. Mrs. Brown operated a boarding house there for more than 20 years. George worked as an office boy for the Waco Times-Herald and, after graduation from Waco High in 1924, attended Toby’s Business College and Waco Academy. He was employed as shipping clerk for South Bros. Trunk Manufacturing Company, then as a demonstrator-salesman for Calumet Baking Powder Co. throughout Louisiana and Mississippi. He was hired by Waco’s Clifton Manufacturing Co. in 1927 as salesman and rose from assistant sales manager 1936, to general secretary 1944 to sales manager and sales director. He retired in 1967 and he and his wife, Stella, started B&B Specialties in 1961 and sold the advertising specialty business in 1984. George married Myrtis Duncan Crain in 1928 and they had two children, Donald, born in 1932, and Beverly, born in 1938. Donald, a U.S. Naval Academy graduate, was killed in Vietnam in 1967. Beverly died of cancer in 1985. After Myrtis died of cancer in 1947, George married Stella Davis Dawson in 1948 and her son, James Dawson, became a member of his family. Stella passed away in 2000. Mr. Brown had been a member of Columbus Avenue Baptist Church since 1947, was a deacon and many years an usher. He belonged to Waco Masonic Lodge #92 for 67 years, Karem Shrine Temple, Waco Founder Lions Club for more than 45 years, Waco Jaycees, Knights of Pythias, UCT Council #52 and Fonce Club. He was a past UCT Grand Counselor and treasurer of Texas UCT for 18 years. He served in Texas State Guard during World War II, as Master Sergeant in charge of supply for Co. A, 8th Bn Texas State Guard. George had an incredible memory, a thirst for knowledge and an infectious optimism. He loved youngsters and, after he turned 90, spent five years as a volunteer teacher in Waco elementary schools . He had lived at Stilwell Retirement Home for 14 years until injured in a fall last October. He is survived by his stepson, James Dawson of Rocklin, California; 5 grandchildren, Charles McDonald of Torrance, Ca.; Philip Morton of Birmingham, Ala.; Cory Blissitte of Hawaii; Debbie Nuttall of Riverside, CA.; and Doni Donaldson of Roseville, CA.; 6 great grandchildren; and a nephew, Robert Kellen of Dallas. Memorial contributions can be made to Stilwell Retirement Center or Columbus Avenue Baptist Church. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our “Memorial Guestbook” at www.wilkirsonhatchbailey.com. Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey