Capt. Brown

Carroll Dean Brown, 69, husband, father, friend, and retired United States Navy Captain who served with the Atlantic and Pacific fleets, passed away on Tuesday, April 14, 2009, in Columbia, SC. Dean Brown was born to Tyler Vandiver and Dollie King Brown in Spartanburg, SC, on November 16, 1939. He attended Spartanburg High School, Spartanburg, SC, and graduated from Wofford College, Spartanburg, SC, with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Mr. Brown enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1960. During his enlistment he was selected for Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island. Capt. C. D. Brown accepted his commission as a U.S. Naval Officer in 1962. Since his commissioning he served with or commanded the USS Boxer (LPH 4), USS Rankin (AKA 103), USS Bache (DD 470), Commanding Officer, USS Duval County (LST 758), Bureau of Naval Personnel, Pentagon Washington, D.C., Commanding Officer, USS Charles Berry (DE 1035), Navy Recruiting District, San Francisco, CA, Commander Destroyer Squadron 26, Commanding Officer, USS Bristol County (LST 1198), Amphibious Squadron FIVE, Amphibious Group ONE, Commander Naval Beach Group ONE, Fleet Training Group, San Diego, CA. During his tour of duty Capt. Brown was awarded Legion of Merit (w/gold star), Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon, Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon (w/Operational), Navy Expeditionary Medal (w/bronze star), National Defense Service Medal (w/bronze star), Humanitarian Service Medal (w/Numeral 2), Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (w/silver star and bronze star), Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation Ribbon (Gallantry Cross Color (w/palm)), Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation Ribbon (Civil Actions Color, First Class Color w/palm). Capt. Brown is predeceased by his wife of 48 years, Nancy Anne Buice Brown, whom he met while they attended Spartanburg High School, who died on November 27, 2005. He is also predeceased by his brother, Milton V. Brown, and sister, Mildred Brown Caldwell. He is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Robert Dean and Laura Vozza Brown of Carlsbad, CA; daughter, Elizabeth Arrington Brown of Charleston, SC; sister, Betty B. Moss of Columbia, SC; brother, Dwight E. Brown of Marietta, GA; sister, Martha B. Birtles of Stevenage, England; and grandchildren, Gabriel Robert Vozza Brown and Micaela Marie Vozza Brown of Carlsbad, CA. Memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, April 19, 2009, at Floyd's Greenlawn Chapel, 2075 East Main Street, Spartanburg, conducted by Chaplain Del Parris. Burial with full military honors will follow in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens, 1300 Fernwood-Glendale Road, Spartanburg. The family will receive friends following the committal service at the home of his brother-in-law, Tom Buice. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the American Cancer Society (http://www.cancer.org) in honor of Carroll Dean Brown. Floyd's Greenlawn Chapel To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Capt. Carroll Dean Brown please visit our Sympathy Store.