Thomas Stanley ”Stan” Brown, 91, of Greenville, Texas passed away Wednesday, August 23, 2023, at his home. A graveside service will be 11:30 A.M., Wednesday, August 30, 2023, at D/FW National Cemetery with Reverend Stan Coleman officiating. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Coker-Mathews Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the American Bible Society and The Bucket Ministry.
Stan was born April 23, 1932, in Memphis, Tennessee to Thomas Quincy Brown and Ella Lois (Knighton) Brown. He dropped out of school in the 9th grade, worked for a few years and joined the U.S. Marine Corps where he served in the Korean War until the end of that conflict. Completing his G.E.D., Stan left the service and held a variety of jobs in service industries and manufacturing before he married the love of his life, former Mary Kathryn ”Kathy” Spellacy of Dallas in 1956.
One evening, Stan told Kathy that he was thinking of becoming an Auto Mechanic because he was pretty good at that kind of work and thought he could make a good living at it. Kathy responded with a question, ”What would you do if you could do anything?” Quoting a popular song of the time, Stan asked, ”You mean if I could ‘swing on a star’?” She said, ”Yes.” He responded, ”I guess I’d like to be an engineer.” And that’s what he did.
Obtaining his Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics from The University of Texas at Arlington, Stan worked for the Corps of Engineers, and later for General Dynamics and Lockheed Martin, rising to Group Manager of a software development team of about 300 engineers, developing the F-16 Falcon’s fire control system.
He enjoyed reading (especially the writings of Thomas Sowell), canoeing, jazz music, and spending time with his family. Known for his wit and sense of humor (he once referred to the lottery as a tax on people who are really bad at math), Stan enjoyed Sunday School classes where he was an active member, and as a volunteer with the AWANA club.
Stan is survived by his wife of 67 years, Kathy, daughter Becki Knight and her husband Glenn of Watauga, Texas, daughter Beverly Farnsworth and her husband Jay of Terre Haute, Indiana, a son, Tom Brown and wife Kristi of Greenville, Texas, and daughter Peggy Esters and her husband Dennis of Union Valley, Texas, thirteen grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild. Stan is also survived by two sisters, Shirley Martin of Greenville, Texas and Wanda Foster and her husband, George of Benbrook, Texas.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Paul, his great-grandson, Trevor, and his brother-in-law, Donnie Martin.
