1937
David
2020
David “Dave” M. Brown
August 11, 1937 — April 13, 2020
Dave Brown, a long-time resident of St. Charles, MO, passed away on April 13, 2020. Dave was preceded in death by his parents, James and Dorothy Brown. He is survived by his beloved wife, Kathy Lawton Brown; his daughter, Deniece (Dave) Brown Mayberry; his grandchildren, Michelle (Nick) Phillips Hamlin and Kyle (Erin) Phillips; his brother, Terrence (Iris) Brown; and he was a loving uncle, cousin, and friend to many.
Dave, 82, was born in Springfield, IL, and joined the U. S. Air Force on his 18th birthday, having had some prior service in the Air National Guard. He served for four years as a flutist with the 702nd Air Force Band at Offutt AFB, Omaha, NE, and then was stationed with the 752nd Air Force Band at Elmendorf AFB, Anchorage, AK. During his four years there, he was also principal flutist in the Anchorage Symphony Orchestra. In 1963, he was transferred to The United States Air Force Band of Washington D.C., where he played flute, alto flute and piccolo. A frequent soloist on many of the popular ‘Serenade in Blue’ broadcasts, he also played in the squadron’s Chamber Players, Woodwind Quintet, and Symphony Orchestra. His long and distinguished career as a soloist and multi-faceted contributor to the unit’s mission eventually led to his becoming Principal Flutist of the Orchestra and of the Concert Band.
In that capacity, he performed thousands of concerts, often as soloist, touring domestically and abroad to Europe and South America under the renowned conductor, Col. Arnald D. Gabriel. He appeared on numerous television broadcasts, in the finest concert venues across the nation and abroad, and at the White House on many occasions. He had the opportunity to work with some of the brightest luminaries of the music and entertainment industry, including actors Edward G. Robinson, Shirley Temple Black, and William Conrad; conductor/composers Robert Shaw, Carmen Dragon, Morton Gould and Aaron Copland; St. Louis’ own jazz trumpeter, Clark Terry and former Tuskegee Airman, General ‘Chappy’ James; plus ‘the Music Man’ himself, composer Meredith Willson, to name only a few. He met his second wife, Kathy, when she joined the USAF Band’s Singing Sergeants in 1973.
After more than 22 years, SMSGT Brown retired from the military with the Air Force Commendation Medal. From D.C., he moved to the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, where he worked with young musicians as a coach, clinician and conductor. He later became involved in the supplemental insurance industry, his district rapidly rising to #4 in the entire world-wide company, AFLAC, in 1985. He moved to Georgia as Regional Sales Director, later transferring to the St. Louis Region for three years, and then stepped out of management, but continued in the industry as an independent contractor.
Always having a generous heart dedicated to serving his community, Dave became involved in Kiwanis, both in Virginia and in St. Charles, MO, becoming President of the St Charles Kiwanis Club in 1993. Flying was a life-long love of his, and he became a private pilot and sailplane pilot. His knowledge of military aircraft was impressive, but his particular passion was vintage aircraft, having owned a 1946 Stinson Voyager 108 for several years in Virginia. He was blessed with an insatiable curiosity, becoming well-versed in whatever field he focused upon…such as photography, to which he devoted himself in later years. (Some of his work is displayed at Pickleman’s on Zumbehl Road.) In 2016, he was diagnosed with brain cancer, but through extraordinarily skillful medical attention, he continued to live his life as fully as possible, loving his family, enjoying his pets, relishing his friendships, and making others laugh with his wickedly-insightful sense of humor. His courage was extraordinary as he continued to touch and inspire others to make this world a better place.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the St. Louis Wind Symphony | P.O. Box 16010 | Clayton, MO 63105. StlWindSym.org
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
Dave, 82, was born in Springfield, IL, and joined the U. S. Air Force on his 18th birthday, having had some prior service in the Air National Guard. He served for four years as a flutist with the 702nd Air Force Band at Offutt AFB, Omaha, NE, and then was stationed with the 752nd Air Force Band at Elmendorf AFB, Anchorage, AK. During his four years there, he was also principal flutist in the Anchorage Symphony Orchestra. In 1963, he was transferred to The United States Air Force Band of Washington D.C., where he played flute, alto flute and piccolo. A frequent soloist on many of the popular ‘Serenade in Blue’ broadcasts, he also played in the squadron’s Chamber Players, Woodwind Quintet, and Symphony Orchestra. His long and distinguished career as a soloist and multi-faceted contributor to the unit’s mission eventually led to his becoming Principal Flutist of the Orchestra and of the Concert Band.
In that capacity, he performed thousands of concerts, often as soloist, touring domestically and abroad to Europe and South America under the renowned conductor, Col. Arnald D. Gabriel. He appeared on numerous television broadcasts, in the finest concert venues across the nation and abroad, and at the White House on many occasions. He had the opportunity to work with some of the brightest luminaries of the music and entertainment industry, including actors Edward G. Robinson, Shirley Temple Black, and William Conrad; conductor/composers Robert Shaw, Carmen Dragon, Morton Gould and Aaron Copland; St. Louis’ own jazz trumpeter, Clark Terry and former Tuskegee Airman, General ‘Chappy’ James; plus ‘the Music Man’ himself, composer Meredith Willson, to name only a few. He met his second wife, Kathy, when she joined the USAF Band’s Singing Sergeants in 1973.
After more than 22 years, SMSGT Brown retired from the military with the Air Force Commendation Medal. From D.C., he moved to the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, where he worked with young musicians as a coach, clinician and conductor. He later became involved in the supplemental insurance industry, his district rapidly rising to #4 in the entire world-wide company, AFLAC, in 1985. He moved to Georgia as Regional Sales Director, later transferring to the St. Louis Region for three years, and then stepped out of management, but continued in the industry as an independent contractor.
Always having a generous heart dedicated to serving his community, Dave became involved in Kiwanis, both in Virginia and in St. Charles, MO, becoming President of the St Charles Kiwanis Club in 1993. Flying was a life-long love of his, and he became a private pilot and sailplane pilot. His knowledge of military aircraft was impressive, but his particular passion was vintage aircraft, having owned a 1946 Stinson Voyager 108 for several years in Virginia. He was blessed with an insatiable curiosity, becoming well-versed in whatever field he focused upon…such as photography, to which he devoted himself in later years. (Some of his work is displayed at Pickleman’s on Zumbehl Road.) In 2016, he was diagnosed with brain cancer, but through extraordinarily skillful medical attention, he continued to live his life as fully as possible, loving his family, enjoying his pets, relishing his friendships, and making others laugh with his wickedly-insightful sense of humor. His courage was extraordinary as he continued to touch and inspire others to make this world a better place.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the St. Louis Wind Symphony | P.O. Box 16010 | Clayton, MO 63105. StlWindSym.org
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of David “Dave” M. Brown, please visit our flower store.
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