Obituary of Richard Lee Brown

Mr. Richard Lee Brown, (United States Army Retired), age 74, of Ozark, passed away peacefully Thursday evening, August 13, 2009, at Flowers Hospital in Dothan. Funeral services will be 10:30 A. M. Monday, August 17, 2009, from St. John The Evangelist Catholic Church in Ozark with Reverend Paul Egbe officiating. Interment will follow in Woodlawn Memory Gardens with Full Military Honors, Holman Funeral Home of Ozark directing. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 4:00 P. M. until 6:00 P. M. Saturday afternoon. Mr. Brown was born November 30, 1934 in Cherryville, Kansas to the late Frank G. and Jenny Smith Brown. He was one of seven children, graduating from Coffeyville High School in 1953, joining the United States Army in August, serving in the Korean Conflict and two tours in Vietnam. Retiring after twenty-two years of service, he worked in The Marshall Islands and Saudi Arabia. While frequently visiting a local bakery in Germany, he found the love of his life, Christa Karin Tomka. On December 18, 1962 they were married. In 1966 his only child was born, Ramona Simone Brown. He made his home in Ozark, Alabama. He truly enjoyed each moment with his lovely wife and his daughter. His grandchildren, Heather and Brittany cherish every moment spent with him. His great grandchildren, Tuff, Hallie, Taylor, and Romie were his pride and joy. On a daily basis he could be found at Tuff's Steakhouse where he enjoyed every customer and he always had a kind word and a joke. Richard enjoyed life to the fullest. He enjoyed gardening and fixing all his family homes and repairing things when needed. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one brother, Tom Brown, and one sister, Betty Campbell. "Opa, you are one of the greatest influences in our life; We love you, Heather and Brittany." "Opa, I will take care of your tools and Oma, I love you, Tuff." Survivors include his wife of 47 years Christa Karin Tomka Brown of Ozark; one daughter and son-in-law, Ramona and Walter A. Hand, Jr. of Ozark; two grand daughters, Heather and Bo Martin, Brittany and Richard Mathews; four great grandchildren, Tuff Hand, Hallie Martin, Taylor Martin, and Romie Mathews, all of Ozark; one sister and brother-in-law, Jeanetta and Matt Reed of Rosehill, Kansas, a sister-in-law, Lois Brown of Daleville; one brother and sister-in-law, Delbert and Sherri Brown of Meridian, Kansas; and his best friend, his dog Jake. Several nieces and nephews also survive. Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to St. Jude Children's Hospital, Attn.: Tribute Department, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105. Service Information