Born September 24, 1926 in Lincoln, Nebraska, Bob was the eldest of three sons of Scott R and Marie J (Deardorff) Brown. He graduated from high school in Ottumwa, Iowa and joined the armed forces, serving in the European theater during World War II. After his discharge, he attended Nebraska Wesleyan University, graduating in 1950 with a BS in chemistry.
In 1952, Bob relocated to Akron, Ohio to work at research and development for the tire industry, and in 1955 took a research chemist position with Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, remaining with them until his retirement.
During Bob's first few years in Goodyear's Rubber Compounding Division, he helped develop 37 patented rubber products, including one for polybutyldiene, for which he received the prestigious Dinsmore Merit Award from the International Rubber Group in 1958.
Known as "Brownie" among his colleagues, Bob was promoted to account executive in 1962 and transferred to Detroit, Michigan to become Goodyear's lead troubleshooter with Ford Motor Company's automotive engineering department. In 1983 Bob returned to Goodyear's Research & Development department in Akron, retiring from there in 1989.
After retiring, Bob relocated, first to Elgin, Illinois and then to Buncombe, Illinois, where he had lived for the past five years.
In his leisure time, Bob had many interests. He enjoyed bowling and golf with business colleagues and clients. At home his hobbies were photography, woodworking, and birding. He was an accomplished cartoonist and artist, and played a "mean" jazz trumpet. Bob joined the Masonic order, Scottish Rite, and the Shrine.
Bob genuinely loved people. During the years at his farm home in Buncombe, many of his favorite moments were spent attending family gatherings, especially children's events. He enjoyed children and went out of his way to listen to them and to let them know they were special to him. He will be sadly missed.
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