Obituary for Robert Brown

Robert Brown

(April 7, 1925 – December 27, 2015)

Robert Joe (Bob) Brown, 90, of Ponca City passed away on Sunday, December 27, 2015. Bob was the first born child of Hobart Owen and Dora Eaton Brown and was the oldest of 17 children. Same mother, same father.

Bob was born on April 7, 1925 in Ponca City, Oklahoma. He attended McCord School and the Ponca City Public Schools. At the age of 17, he learned the welding trade and worked in the shipyards in Seattle, Washington. He returned to Ponca City after receiving his draft orders during World War II and worked for Continental Oil Company until he was inducted into the United States Army where he served in France and Germany. Upon returning to the States, he said, "One of the sweetest moments I ever enjoyed in life was seeing the Statue of Liberty and knowing I was home." Bob retired from CONOCO on June 1, 1985 after 43 years of service as a Welder in the Ponca City CONOCO Refinery.

On March 12, 1949, he married Mary Jeanne Sifferd, "the love of his life." Bob and Mary enjoyed 66 years of marriage before his passing.

Bob was preceded in death by two daughters, Ronda Jo Brown and Roxanna Jane Brown, and also by his parents, three brothers, William (Bill) Brown, Richard (Dick) Brown and David Earl Brown, two sisters, Joanne Crain and Elizabeth (Liz) Dale.

Bob is survived by his wife, Mary Jeanne Brown of the home, one daughter, Jeanne Ruth (Ruthie) and her husband Dennis Shurtz of Arkansas City, KS, two sons, Ronald Joe (Ronnie) and his wife Jackie Ramsey Brown of Ponca City, Robert Jay (Robbie) and his wife Denise Strickland Brown of Lafayette, LA, grandsons: Brook Lander Shurtz of Los Angeles, CA, Cory Lee Brown of Oakland, KS, Casey Joe Brown of Oakland, KS, granddaughters Danielle Nicole Brown of Lafayette, LA and Megan Michele Brown of Houston, TX.

There are eleven remaining brothers and sisters who all live in Ponca City. They are: Otis and wife Norma Brown, Jerry Dean Brown, Bessie Lea and husband Ray Taylor, Frances Nell Smith, Lena Auld, Betty and husband Don Wright, Willie Mae Racho, Edith Atkins, Jackie Sue Schoonover, Judy Fox, and Sharon Kay and husband Jack Hodges.

Viewing for Bob will be at Trout Funeral Home on Sunday, January 3rd from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Monday January 4th from 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Family will be present to greet friends from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m both nights.

Funeral services will be held at the Ranch Drive Baptist Church, 2985 S. Ranch Drive Ponca City, OK, at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 5, 2016 with Pastor Mark Busch delivering the service. Burial with military honors will follow at Odd Fellows Cemetery in Ponca City.

Source: Trout Funeral Home