Vernon Oliver Brown
1934 – 2024
Vernon Oliver Brown was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on April 16, 1934 to Vernon Almas Brown and Norma Estelle (Cheatham) Brown. He passed away on May 28, 2024. Vernon was preceded in death by his parents, brother David Paul (Pete) Brown, brother Edwin Lee Brown and his son Vernon Kent Brown. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Linda Jo (Brooks) Brown, daughter Karen Jones, grandsons Stephen Jones and Christopher Jones, sister Barbara Sander and many beloved nieces, nephews, family members and friends.
Vernon lived in the Oklahoma City area most of his life, but spent a good deal of time visiting family in the Haskell, Oklahoma area, where his family and Linda’s family were from. After his retirement, he and Linda built a home at Lake Tenkiller and enjoyed lake life for over 30 years. They returned full-time to the Oklahoma City/Edmond area in 2009.
After high school graduation Vernon began working as a mechanic on the flight line at Tinker AFB. Apart from two years of service in the Army towards the end of the Korean War, Vernon worked his entire career at Tinker in various positions, ending as Section Chief of the Foreign Military Sales office in the E-3 AWACS program. In that position he traveled to Europe and Saudi Arabia many times. He had first-hand knowledge that camels do spit. Vernon also retired from the Air Force Reserves as a Master Sergeant. In his position as a flight engineer on the C-124, C-119 and C-130 aircraft he traveled the world. Many, many miles were flown to Peru, Vietnam, Spain, the Philippines, the Azores, Japan, and numerous states. Many of these trips were flown with Ken Smith, Vernon’s cousin and lifelong friend who was also a flight engineer in the Reserves.
Vernon’s hobbies were varied. As a young man, he raced cars at the Oklahoma City Fairgrounds, even winning several trophies. He was a stickler about properly caring for his lawn, home and vehicles. In his retirement, he took up woodworking, and he learned to parasail in his late 50s. Later, in his less active years, he was an avid reader. Always, he was a Sooner fan. Before, during and after every OU football game, he and Ken would discuss and analyze the team’s performance. Following Sooner softball and the OKC Thunder were also favorite activities.
More than anything else though, Vernon loved his family and friends, and they loved him back. Comments made by family and friends upon hearing of his death included: “I thought the world of that man,” “He was like a brother to me,” and “He was one of the best people I ever met.”
In lieu of flowers, the family would like donations be made to St. Monica Catholic Church or the Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City Seminarian Fund.
Services will be at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 at St. Monica Catholic Church in Edmond, Oklahoma.
Inurnment will be at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 3, 2024 at Haskell Cemetery in Haskell, Oklahoma.
VERNON WAS ONE OF A KIND. HE WAS A FRIEND, A BUDDY, AND A DEAR COUSIN. YOU WILL BE MISSED “CUZ’.