John Thompson Jr Brown

Mr. John Thompson Brown, Jr., age 79, of Concord, died Wednesday, February 3, 2016, in his sleep. Born February 11, 1936 in Oxford, NC, he was the son of the late John Thompson Brown and Martha Cross Brown. He was predeceased by his wife, Barbara Babcock Brown.

As the son of a father who oversaw large government construction projects, he spent his childhood moving from one place to another, never attending the same school for more than a year until his family settled in Concord for him to attend high school. Every summer he would stay with his cherished aunt and uncle, William and Eleanor, and his cousin, Edith, in Gatesville, NC, the place he considered his childhood home.

Tom attended UNC-Chapel Hill, then Clemson, and finally NC State, where he received his degree in Civil Engineering.

Very early in his career, he established himself as the owner of Brown Construction Company, a business he successfully ran for more than 30 years. In addition to his career, he served his community as a member of the United States Army, All Saints Episcopal Church, the Board of Water & Light, President of Cabarrus Country Club, and the developer of English Woods, a neighborhood community in Concord.

Tom Brown was blessed with many gifts -- good looks, intelligence, and a great sense of humor -- but perhaps most important to his life, was his impeccable taste in women. The first example of this was his marriage to the incomparable Barbara Brown. Together they raised four children and quite a ruckus talking politics at the dinner table each night. Following his wife’s passing, he enjoyed the companionship of longtime friend Nancy Burkhart. At the time of his death, Derry Wagner was a special part of his life.

Tom Brown was one of the most forward thinking men you could know: as soon as he finished breakfast, he was already looking forward to what may be for lunch. His appetite for life manifested itself in many ways, from his daring escapades on boats at Sunset Beach; to his passion for knowledge; to his love of competition from tennis to Scrabble; to his unceasing optimism.

He is survived by his sister, Martha Royall, and husband Richard of Lewes, DE; daughter Sumner Brown and husband Herb Beskin of Charlottesville, VA; daughter Langley Borneman and husband Philip of Charlotte; daughter Hunter Buxton and husband J.B. of Raleigh; son Thompson Brown and wife Leigh of Raleigh; and grandchildren Lydia Burton and husband Levi of Jacksonville; Drake, Luke, and Sadie Buxton of Raleigh; and Harper and Emerson Brown, also of Raleigh.

If you would like to make a gift in his honor, please consider giving to the SPCA or the Democratic Party.

The family will receive friends on Saturday, February 6, 2016 at Wilkinson Funeral Home in Concord from 4:00 - 6:00 PM.