Richard Kirkland Brown, a resident of Burleson, Texas, passed away on Thursday, August 16, 2018 at the age of 85.  The fifth child of Willie Octavia Fail and Henry Edward Brown, Jr., Richard was born in Selma, Alabama on April 12, 1933.  He was preceded in death by his parents; his siblings Frances McDowell Steele, Montgomery, Alabama, and Kenneth Edward Brown, Atlanta, Georgia; his brothers-in-law Stanley Goldsmith, Fullerton, California, Rex Wampler McDowell and Charles Beckett Steele, Montgomery; and his sister-in-law Elizabeth French Brown, Atlanta, Georgia. 

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Lady Ruth Barner Brown; daughters Alison Kae Barnes (Eddie), Monticello, Arkansas, and Brooke Anne Pekurney (Rod), Colleyville, Texas; sisters Irma Brown Goldsmith, Fullerton, California, and Cherry Brown Marshall, Greenville, South Carolina; grandchildren Brittainy Barnes Caldwell (Will), Kirk Barnes (Lané), Sunnie Brooke Pekurney, and Allie Claire Pekurney; great-grandchildren Sadye and Bill Caldwell; and numerous nieces and nephews. 

Richard attended Marion Military Institute, Baylor University, and Auburn University before joining the Air Force where after training he was stationed in Alabama and later at Carswell AFB, serving as a medical technician for his entire seven years of service in active duty and reserves.  Richard worked for several years as a pharmaceutical rep in Houston, Shreveport, and Fort Worth, but his life’s work was running various small businesses in the construction and restaurant industries for over 45 years. 

Richard loved the outdoors, and for all his life was an avid fisherman, hunter, and gardener.  Always a people person, however, nothing pleased him more than cooking the game from his outdoor sports and the produce from his garden for his family and many friends. 

Richard will be interred at Dallas Fort Worth National Cemetery, 2000 Mountain Creek Parkway, Grand Prairie, Texas 75211 at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, August 24, 2018.  A service to celebrate his life will begin thereafter at noon at the Oak Grove Baptist Church, 12351 Oak Grove Road South, Burleson, Texas 76028 with a reception and lunch to follow at the church.  Services will be led by Pastor Steve Beckwith.  Serving as pall bearers will be Mike Adams, Carroll Graves, Scott Ferguson, Gene Bryson, Garland Brinson, Barry Meadows, Benton Koepf, David Reubenkoenig, Donnie Tucker, and Mike McGee. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the American Heart Association or the charity of your choice.