Delmar Lee Brown, 82, of Richmond, Virginia, passed away on January 25, 2008. He was born on May 14, 1925, in Suffolk, Virginia, the son of the late Edward Lewis and Annie Lee Parker Brown. He was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Maude Armistead Brown; and his daughter, Beverley Parker Brown. He was also preceded in death by his sister, Edna B. Lupton; and his brothers, E. Parker Brown, C. Bernard Brown and Robert E. Brown. He is survived by his daughter, Lee B. Bedell and her husband, Dickson, of Richmond; by his daughter, Elizabeth “Betsy” B. Kaufman and her husband, Charles, of Richmond; and by his grandchildren, Elizabeth B. Lindsey and her husband, Mack, of Williamsburg, Todd Bedell, of Richmond, and A.T. Shire and Nat Shire, both of Chatham, New Jersey. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Emma Z. Brown, his biggest advocate and guardian angel; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II where he saw action in the South Pacific Theater as First Gunner on PT Boat 524, “Bet Me,” taking part in numerous battles, including the Battle of Leyete Gulf and the invasion of Tarakan and Borneo.
Following the war, he graduated from Suffolk High School. He attended Elon College on the GI Bill and graduated from the T.C. Williams School of Law at the University of Richmond. Mr. Brown was retired from the law firm of FloranceGordonBrown, P.C., which he joined in 1953. In 1956, he was made a partner and his name was added to the firm in 1957. Mr. Brown was the last surviving named partner of the firm. He served as a mentor to many of the young lawyers at the firm. He was proud to have been recognized as a member of the Richmond, Virginia, and American Bar Associations for over 50 years.
Mr. Brown was known for his integrity, modesty, and quick wit. He always enjoyed a good laugh, a good joke and a good story, especially a fishing story. He had many interests, including his river cottage, tennis, boating, fishing, cooking, reading, the stock market, travel, and his vegetable garden.
He divided his time among family, work, charitable and civic endeavors. He was a founding board member of Elk Hill Farm, Inc.; and, in 1997, Elk Hill Farm named its new dining hall in his honor. He served as President of the Virginia Junior Chamber of Commerce of Richmond and as Chairman of the Board of United Way of Richmond. He was active in the Richmond Chamber of Commerce, the Richmond Boys Club, the Kiwanis Club of Richmond, the Cerebral Palsy Center and Richmond Cotillion. He also helped start the Big Brothers program in Richmond. He was a member of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church. He was a longtime board member of Franklin Federal Savings and Loan Association and was an honorary board member at the time of his death. The family thanks the caregivers at Cedarfield for the loving care they provided to Mr. Brown.