William (“Dick”) Earl Brown, born on May 16, 1928 in Rich Square, NC passed away quietly in his sleep on May 14, 2008 at Pitt Memorial Hospital in Greenville, NC. Dick Brown, a native of Northampton County, spent most of his life, upon graduation from NC State, in Central and South America as an agronomist. His passion and lifelong work was teaching local farmers to grow tobacco as an export crop.

Survivors include his wife Johanna Staton Brown of the home, two daughters; Amy Botti of Sellersville, PA, Connie Brown of Pooler, GA, two sons; Andy Brown of Orange City, FL and Michael Brown of Mexico. He was grandfather to Ryan Wakefield, Shelly Brown, Alison Wakefield Clemency, and Kenny Brown. He was great grandfather to Hayden and Savannah Clemency.