GAFFNEY, SC-- Mr. Walter Eugene (Gene) Brown, 70, of 127 Roland Farm Road, Gaffney, SC, died Wednesday, March 16, 2005, at his home. He was the husband of Linda Reed Brown and a native of Gaffney, SC, and former resident of Spartanburg, SC. He was a member of the First Baptist Church, Spartanburg, SC, and a graduate of Pacolet High School and Clemson University, class of 1956.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter William Brown and Ruth Wilkins Brown. In addition to his wife, Mr. Brown is survived by a daughter, Shannon Bradford and her husband Sloan of Spartanburg, SC, and their children, Brown, Brennan, Anna Grace, Lindsay, and Lori; daughter, Shelly Smith and her husband Steve of Charlotte, NC, and their children, Matthew and Morgan; son, Reed Brown and his wife Suzanne of Spartanburg, SC, and their children, Bethelyn and Nathan; son, David Brown and his wife Tracy of Boiling Springs, SC, and their children Zachary, Will, and Davis; three sisters, Margaret Clary and Claire Poole, both of Raleigh, NC, and Eunice Howard of Walterboro, SC; two brothers, Jim Brown of Gaffney, SC, and William Brown of Greenville, SC.; and a sister-in-law, Joan Crawford of Columbia, SC.
Mr. Brown was president of Brown Packing Company, Inc. He formerly worked for Armour, Inc. and served in the Army Reserves. He was on the Executive Board of Palmetto Council of Boy Scouts and on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the American Meat Institute. He also served as a trustee and former chairman of the board for Limestone College, as past president of Gaffney Rotary Club, and as a deacon at the First Baptist Church, Spartanburg. He was a member and past president of Crustbreakers of Gaffney.
Funeral services were at Saturday, March 19, 2005, in the sanctuary of the First Baptist Church, Spartanburg, SC, conducted by the Rev. Dr. Donald J. Wilton and the Rev. Dr. Kirk H. Neely.. Committal service followed at Goucher Baptist Church Cemetery, Gaffney, SC.